MCC CEO to visit Armenia May 3-5May 2, 2011 - 11:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Mr. Daniel W. Yohannes, will visit Armenia May 3-5 to review the results of the five year, U.S.-funded MCA-Armenia Program. During his visit he will meet with President Serzh Sargsian, senior officials of the government of Armenia, farmer beneficiaries, donor partners, and private sector and civil society representatives, the U.S. embassy to Yerevan said. In 2006, the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the government of the Republic of Armenia signed a Compact with the objective of reducing rural poverty through a sustainable increase in the economic performance of the agricultural sector. When completed in September 2011, the MCC grant investment of nearly USD 180 million in the MCA-Armenia program will benefit over 420,000 rural residents in around 350 communities across Armenia by refurbishing major sections of the country’s main canal systems, modernizing some of the most urgently needed pumping stations, introducing new gravity irrigation schemes, re-building tertiary canals and restoring sections of the Ararat Valley Drainage system. The MCA-Armenia program is also training nearly 45,000 farmers in improved agriculture practices, delivering technical assistance to water supply institutions, and providing USD 8.5 million in credit to farmers and small agribusinesses in support of the program objectives. MCC is an innovative U.S. foreign aid agency that is helping lead the fight against global poverty. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |