The regular Cabinet meeting took place today, chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. At today's Cabinet meeting, Nikol Pashinyan referred to the country's economic indicators of this year, which he assessed as optimistic. In particular, in April of this year, compared to April of last year, we have an 8.8% increase in economic activity. According to the data for 4 months, the growth of the economic activity index is 9.4%.

Nikol Pashinyan, referring to the recent discussion on the state budget, medium-term expenditure program, noted, "At first we discussed the expenditure part of the first quarter with a certain specificity, and we recorded with regret that we did not fulfill the expenditure part in full. We spent about 28 billion AMD less than we had planned. Why am I saying this? Because if we had made all those expenditures in the first quarter, we would definitely have not 8.6% economic growth, but much more, maybe 9.6%, maybe more. And I say this with the following logic: I ask the heads of all ministries, departments, I urge, I demand, carefully follow the budget as your daily working document. When we say wasting, we mean that we took the money from the state treasury and used it for no purpose, but not spending the money intended for state and public purposes is also a waste.”

In that context, the Prime Minister highlighted the expenditure of resources for recording results. “I have instructed the Deputy Prime Minister, as the person in charge of expenditures, to prepare a report on all the under-executed or unfulfilled lines in the near future, according to the departments. I will listen to that report, and relevant instructions will be given. Each of our unfulfilled projects affects these economic indicators, which are good, sorry, very good, but they could have been much better. I draw your attention to this issue, I expect that the expenditures will be executed normally”. The Prime Minister also stated that there are no problems with revenues.

The Government approved the procedure for the implementation of the state support program for energy efficient renovation of apartments and individual residential houses, and made amendments to one of the previously adopted decisions. The program envisages full or partial subsidization of interest rates on loans for energy efficient renovation of the apartment. All the banks are involved in the program, the loans will be given for a period of 7 years, and during 7 years the Government will subsidize the loan with relevant interest.

The Government approved the draft laws of the Republic of Armenia on making amendments to the “Law on Administrative Territorial Division of the Republic of Armenia”, “Law on Local Self-Government” and “Law on Public Service”. Accordingly, it is planned to implement 5 community unification programs in the community clusters of Talin of Aragatsotn Province, Chambarak of Gegharkunik Province, Alaverdi of Lori Province, Tashir, Sisian of Syunik Province. According to the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan, 72 community unification programs have been implemented since 2016, as a result of which 72 communities have been formed as a result of the unification of 908 communities. According to the Minister, 13 communities and 141 settlements will be involved in the programs proposed by the bill, as a result of which 5 communities will be formed.

By the decision of the Government, 200 million AMD will be allocated to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports for the proper participation of the sportsman in the European and world championships. In particular, money will be allocated to the Armenian basketball, boxing, wrestling, weightlifting, shooting, judo, gymnastics, fencing, volleyball, tennis federations and "Armenian Swimming Federation" NGO. With additional funding, the federations will organize international tournaments and championships in the country, and will organize training camps to better prepare for the European and World Championships, including joint training camps with teams from other countries. In addition, the federations will take part in international tournaments, the number of participants in the European and World Cups will increase. Nikol Pashinyan attached importance to holding international sports events in Armenia, adding that Armenia should have its place on the world sports map. And that, according to the Prime Minister, requires daily work.