The KfW project on Promoting the protection of biodiversity in Armenia and protected areas will be led by the new head - Alvaro Beriel
ArmInfo.A meeting was held at the Ministry of Nature Protection in Armenia within the participation of the Minister of Nature Protection completing his mission, the head of KfW programs on environmental protection Andreas Veitsel, and his successor in this post, Alvaro Berielo.
At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Artsvik Minasyan and Andreas Veitsel signed an agreement on the implementation of the energy security program in 4 communities near the Shikaohh reserve. To this end, KfW will allocate $ 8.25 million in grant funds, which will be used to promote programs to conserve biodiversity in Armenia and protect protected areas.
Minister A. Minasyan awarded Andreas Veitsel the RA golden medal "For a significant contribution to the sphere of nature protection". A. Minasyan, having greeted the new head of the program, Alvaro Beriel, expressed his confidence that the joint work will not only be effective, but will also become exemplary. A.Veytsel, thanking for the high appreciation of his work, noted that it is difficult for him to leave Armenia, especially at the start of an important stage of effective cooperation in the protection of protected areas, but since his mission to the Republic of Armenia was completed, he wished his success to his successor Alvaro Beriel . "We have always attached special importance to cooperation with Armenia, and at the moment the third generation program under the working title" The Biodiversity Assistance Program in Armenia "is aimed at further development and improvement of the management system for protection of forests and protected areas," A.Veytsel noted.
During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to the structure and content of the program to promote the conservation of biodiversity in Armenia and the protection of protected areas. The Minister stressed the importance of full implementation of the program, as it is of a continuing nature and is a priority among government programs. A. Minasyan paid special attention to the social component of this program, as the envisaged development of the adjacent communities will have a positive impact on improving the regime for the protection of reserves.
At the culmination of the discussions, an agreement was reached on further joint steps to implement programs to conserve biodiversity in Armenia and protect protected areas.To, recall KfW is one of the major donors of Armenia. KfW's investments for the last 20 years amounted to about 500 million euros for 14 programs, including in the field of SMEs, agricultural sector, energy complex, ecology and in the financial and banking sector. Armenia's external debt to the Bank on January 1, 2017. Amounted to $ 200.4 million (4.2% of the total external debt of the RA) with an annual growth of 5.5%. According to the National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia, the volume of Germany's investments in the real sector of the Armenian economy as of April 1, 2017 exceeded $ 688 million (of which almost $ 187 million is FDI), and taking into account repayments, about $ 143 million (of which about $ 66 million is FDI) . Germany holds the second position in terms of investments in the real sector of the Armenian economy.