Armenia will offer interest-free loans within coronavirus aid packageMarch 19, 2020 - 12:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The government on Thursday, March 19 discussed issues related to the settlement of the economic crisis caused by the novel coronavirus. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan unveiled the details of an economic aid package introduced the day before. A portion of the package will be used for business loans, he said, with the government and banks sharing the financing. The government will provide funds interest-free and subsidize those provided by the banks and credit organizations, which means borrowers will receive loans completely interest-free. The money can be spent on paying salaries and taxes, purchasing and importing raw materials or equipment, covering electricity, water and gas costs Pashinyan on Wednesday announced a AMD 150 billion ($305 million) economic aid package aimed at easing the impacts of the novel coronavirus. 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 and 115 cases have been confirmed overall in the country. 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 | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |