“The government programme presented by the new cabinet does not differ much from the one unveiled months ago and again lacks figures,” economist Vardan Bostanjyan told Panorama.am.
In his words, the 70-page-long document contains separate sections on foreign and internal security issues, the fight against corruption, on notions of free, dignified and happy citizen, competitive, participatory and inclusive economy, territorial administration and the local self-governance, infrastructure, energy, mining, water management, hi tech sectors, the finance administration, yet the figures in the document are superficial. Moreover, the figures are concerning, according to our interlocutor.
“The programme states that the GDP growth rate should in average amount for 5% in the programme implementation period. Note, this figure our economy recorded even in its worst period. The next figure refers to the export. It states that the exports of goods and services in the period of programme implementation (until 2023) should reach 43-45 percentage of GDP. That simply cannot happen economically,” Bostanjyan said.
The economist doubted the knowledge and expertise of the specialists who had worked on the document and the promised economic revolution of the new leadership. “Our economy was not ‘dead’. Yes, we are a small market lacking resources, big financial opportunities. The state administration was not one of the best, yet we should not think nothing had been done and the new government had to start from scratch.”
Bostanjyan said the government programme which is lyrical in nature and has no touch with reality can be approved considering the factor of the period, then hoping the authorities will come to understanding what means to lead a state and realize own powers.