Gayane Khachatryan from “First Armenian News and Analysis” interviewed permanent representative of the International Monetary Fund in Armenia Guillermo Tolosa. Asked to elaborate on the difference between IMF and Armenian GDP growth (in IMF September report RA GDP’s annual estimate was 3.9% in case when Armenian authorities predicted 7.1% growth) Tolosa stated that: “In the document of the fund named “World perspectives” this DGP figure is based on March estimates. Afterwards, when the material was sent for publication, IMF mission came in September, who did new analysis and the estimate of this year is 6.2%, which is no different from the one fixed by the authorities. But we don’t think that in future these levels will remain the same. We predict 4.3% increase of GDP level which actually reflects the return of long-lasting policy. RA will preserve the development inclination, which means that growth will go on and will be favorable for the nation. Armenia has much to do to reach the competitiveness level in the world and in the region especially in terms of RA business world issues.”
Ascertaining whether Armenia lags beyond world developments, the IMF representative replied: “Globally the economy works better in comparison with many countries, but what refers to the improvement of perspectives, Armenia has much more to do.”
In the course of the intervew Guillermo Tolosa was asked to touch upon the issue of recent “discoveries” (unveiling cases of large corruption) by RA authorities and their impact on future developments. “We welcome the fact that recently the authorities unveil the abuses, because the resources not addressed to the poor and the children are exploited. But these are not simple exploitation, but these are elimination of resources that are extremely needed. This is the robbery of state’s hope as well as robbery of social peace and trust towardsthe government”- stated Tolosa.
The IMF representative was asked whether the discoveries are likely to end up with presidential elections taking into consideration that they started some months before the presidential elections. “Taking into account the huge importance of the issue for the country, we are hopeful that this will be continuous.”
Guillermo Tolosa as well discussed the issue of poverty level in Armenia noting: “Despite the execution of social programs in the country, the poverty level increases and this fact is noted by the heads of the state as well. There are two estimates in the country on poverty level – officiall 35% and the estimate of the experts 80%.”
“First Armenian News and Analysis” inquired whether “The strategic program of overcoming poverty” was inefficient or poverty is the result of the crisis and what can be done to improve the situation. The official replied: “ IMF doesn’t have its own estimate of poverty in RA that the level is higher than it is officially announced. The estimate on poverty is old referring to state in 2010, but there was economic growth in the following 2 years, which has surely contributed to the decrease of poverty.”
