  Armenia announces $305 million coronavirus economic aid package March 18, 2020 - 20:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday, March 18 announced a AMD 150 billion ($305 million) economic aid package aimed at easing the impacts of the novel coronavirus. In an interview with Shant TV, Pashinyan said the first batch of AMD 25 billion (approx. $50 million) will be distributed among companies that will borrow money to pay salaries, taxes, utilities and buy raw materials. The government is also planning to subsidize agricultural loans to reduce the interest rates to 0%, Pashinyan said. According to him, an urgent social assistance package of AMD 30 billion ($61 million) will be aimed at "preventing the decline of the social situation." Furthermore, AMD 80 billion will be invested in innovative projects, the Prime Minister said. Also Wednesday, Pashinyan said the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country grew by 20 to reach 102 overall. Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency on Monday and banned citizens of 16 nations from entering the country. So far, one person has recovered from the coronavirus in Armenia.   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 |  Latest news Pasadena to host Armenian Genocide commemoration event  The Pasadena Armenian Coalition will host its community-wide Armenian Genocide Commemorative Event.Armenia: Opposition activist transferred to Investigative Committee Activist Samvel Vardanyan has been accused of insulting the lawmaker Hakob Aslanyan from the ruling Civil Contract party.Russia confirms start of withdrawal of peacekeepers from Karabakh The Kremlin has confirmed reports about the start of the withdrawal of Russian peacekeeping forces in Karabakh.France recalls its ambassador to Azerbaijan France on April 16 said it had recalled for consultations the French ambassador to Azerbaijan. |
