Working visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to Shirak marz

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan left to Shirak marz on a working visit.

The President of Armenia visited the sugar plant in Akhurian region. Serzh Sargsyan toured the grounds of the new factory, familiarized with the accomplished works and conversed with the management and employees of the plant about the exiting problems and programs of development.

Construction of the sugar plant on the territory of former Arevik compound in Akhurian region is aimed at the restoration of sugar production in Armenia, promoting also sugar beet growing in the regions which can in turn lead to the creation of new jobs. Toward that end, back in 2008 the Government of Armenia approved the concept of the “Development of sugar beet production in the Republic of Armenia”. Consequently, the Ministry of Agriculture, in cooperation with the regional administrations of Shirak and Lori in 2010 commenced activities aimed at the restoration of sugar beet production in the mentioned two marzes.

President Sargsyan was informed that until now over 102 million USD have already been invested in the project and the enterprise started to work on the imported raw material. Until now, 17.0 tons of the imported semi-raw materials have already been imported and after processing white sugar was produced. To complete the cycle of processing of sugar beets grown in Armenia, it is necessary to finish testing and adjustment works which will be done after harvesting.

After touring the sugar plant, President Sargsyan responded to the questions of journalists and noted that the accomplished works are very impressive and this plant, which is equipped with the modern machinery, will solve a number of problems. First, it will create 1000 new jobs in the region. Second, the plant will become a driving force for these communities because it is capable of processing locally grown sugar beets. And the third most important issue, which the Akhurian sugar plant will solve, is the implementation of the policies aimed at curbing imports and boosting exports. “I believe, some time later Armenia will not be importing sugar at all because the quality of the sugar produced on this plant will be pretty good and it will be less expensive that the sugar produced abroad,” the President of Armenia said.

In the framework of his working visit to Shirak marz, the President of Armenia attended also the groundbreaking ceremony of the Gyumri medical center.
The construction of a new medical center in Gyumri, which made in the framework of the program of modernization of the medical system of the city, is aimed at the enhancement of the provided medical services, improvement of their quality and accessibility. The project is being implemented in the framework of the World Bank project of “Modernization of the health care in Armenia”.

The project envisages the merge of the Shirak’s regional hospital, Samaritans and Gyulbenkian surgical hospitals and creation in the city of Gyumri of a one multiprofile medical center for adults (200 beds). Toward that end, the Government made a decision to build next to the Austrian Hospital for Children in Gyumri a new three-story building which will also accommodate the therapeutic and surgical services of the three mentioned hospitals. Hence, facilities for multiprofile medical services for adults and children in Gyumri will be located next to each other, in one place which will increase the accessibility of the services for the population.

From the construction site of the medical center the President of Armenia left for the Head Office of Shirak administration where he conducted a working meeting on the marz’s social and economic issues.

Later, Serzh Sargsyan visited the Cross-stones square established next to the St All-Savior church in Gyumri, observed the copies of the cross-stones destroyed in Jugha. They have been created by the sculptors of the city as a kind of protest against cultural genocide carried out by the Azeris in Jugha. The President of Armenia was informed that in the future over one hundred cross-stones will be installed in the square.

In Gyumri, Serzh Sargsyan participated also at the festivities on the Vardanants Square dedicated to the City Day.

During the festivities, which are being organized since 2006 and are held in September or October, Gyumri honors its most prominent fellow citizens, decorating them with the “Master” gold badge, with the “Distinguished Citizen” and other honorary titles.

Serzh Sargsyan concluded his working visit to Shirak marz by visiting the newly constructed City Hall of Gyumri. The President toured the premises and observed working conditions in the building.