YEREVAN, April 26.  /ARKA/. The German GIZ announced on Wednesday in Yerevan the launch of a program called "Private Sector Development and Vocational Training and Education in the South Caucasus" worth 8.6 million euros.  Katja Kamerer, program director, told reporters, this is the third program GIZ carries out in the region. 



She said the three-year program will focus on three main areas - development of the private sector through "green" technologies and inclusive growth, professional education on the basis of cooperation between the public and private sectors, as well as international exchange of experience. 



The program is being financed by the EU in the amount of 6 million euros.  The funds will be used to develop small and medium-sized businesses, especially in the field of information and high technologies.  Kamerer said that in parallel with this program GIZ will continue the implementation of previous programs, designed for 2013 -2019 with a budget of 29.7 million euros, including co-financing of the EU in the amount of 11.4 million euros. 



She said in Armenia, these programs are aimed at facilitating the development of SMEs as well as supporting the economic integration of Syrian refugees.  The first program’s budget is 6.4 million euros and that of the second is 2.5 million euros. 



The head of the Yerevan office of the GIZ program "Private Sector Development and Vocational Training and Education" Wilhelm Hugo stressed that the program places special emphasis on promoting "green" technologies and development in three areas such as tourism, engineering and IT. 



"We are already implementing a number of programs in Armenia in the field of tourism and winemaking, and we can note the high performance, including in wine production, the creation of a wine laboratory, wineries and a training center," Hugo said.  -0-





15:23 26.04.2017