As a result of the 5th stage of the competition announced within the framework of the Value chains development component of the “Second Community Agricultural Resource Management and Competitiveness” (CARMAC 2) project of the RA Ministry of Economy, 27 business applications were recognized as winners.

Each winning organization will be awarded with a grant of up to 25 million AMD on a 50% co-financing basis for purchasing appropriate equipment to develop the production capacity and operate effectively.

On December 25, 2020, the RA Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan and CARMAC 2 Project Manager David Mejlumyan met with the representatives of the beneficiary organizations.

“The government provides support to agricultural processing enterprises through several tools. For example, in 2020, within the agricultural development programs, 5.5 billion AMD was provided on leasing terms only for purchase of equipment in the field of agricultural processing, which is twice as much as in 2019. Within the framework of this project, in 2020 contracts were signed with 30 processing companies, in 17 of which ISO-22000 and HACCP food safety systems have already been introduced”, said Arman Khojoyan.

The Deputy Minister expressed hope that by the beginning of the agricultural production season the organizations will be able to acquire equipment, equip their production lines, organize more efficient production, and become more competitive in market.

Within the framework of the project, it is envisaged to provide targeted financial assistance to agricultural business entities that are duly registered in accordance with the RA legislation, including individual entrepreneurs, production, consumer, and agricultural cooperatives, enterprises processing agricultural production (except for non-governmental organizations and foundations) that are engaged in value chains and meet the project compliance and selection criteria.