Armenia repeats impossible task of improving corrupted economy

By AzerNews

The Armenian government has recently announced plans to improve its business environment in 2014, a task which is impossible on the background of a corrupted and monopolized business.

Official statistics clearly mirrors that Armenia's business environment is getting worse and the country is not attractive for foreign investments.

Foreign direct investment decreased 62.1 percent in Armenia during the nine months of 2013.

The Armenian government is not tired to announce traditionally this impossible task at the beginning of every year, and no measures are taken the whole year to perform the task.

The Armenian Union of Employers stressed that business cannot be attractive in the absence of democracy, free competition and a high level of corruption.

Due to difficult economic situation in the country Armenians cannot find jobs. Half of all young people living in Armenian cities, are in search of jobs, but still unsuccessful. Salary is a main source of living for about 580,000 Armenians. Armenian economists alarm that people in the country earn only their life, ensuring food provision and vital activity.

Food prices are rising faster over the last years in Armenia. So, it is getting more difficult to live on a wage.

On this background, Armenian MPs expect a twice increase of their wages. They will receive 661,400 drams ($1,633) from July 1, 2014.

Armenian PM Tigran Sargsyan could create ideal business environment in the country, but only for his business interests. Sargsyan started growing vegetables at greenhouse at the territory of about 5 hectares. He also intends to develop own business in fisheries.

Now Armenia is looking overseas for ways to save its almost dead economy. Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian recently had a tour to Latin American countries. At his official meetings in these countries Nalbandian called for economic cooperation. He even could obtain a free venue for the Armenian pavilion in the annual international exhibition in Cuba, which suffers U.S. economic sanctions since 1960.

Yerevan's main Freedom Square will host the first rally for 2014 on January 18 to protest against the introduction of mandatory funded pension system. Last developments in the country show that the Freedom Square will not rest from protests in 2014, as, the government is faithful to its tradition - just statements about crucial impossible-doing tasks.