Multifunctional complex to be constructed on Armenian-Turkish border 

ArmInfo. A multifunctional complex will be constructed near the villages of Bagaran and  Yervarndashat, on the Armenian-Turkish border. Armenia's Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan announced the Yerra project on his Facebook account. 

The complex will be constructed in an area of 2,088 hectares and will  comprise of a production, agricultural, educational and tourist  components. The complex will also include a residential district, a  large farm and intensive almond gardens. The border villages will be  integrated into the complex as well.

The government will participate in the project by subsidizing loans  for intensive gardening and in the Infrastructure for Investment  programme.  

On July 20, 2023, the Armenian government approved a decision to  assist UEM Agro in creating infrastructure for intensive orchards and  large-scale farming. For these purposes, the state budget will  allocate AMD 257.4mln. 

On August 22, 2022, the government approved the "Investments in  exchange for infrastructure" program, according to which, with  certain investments, investors can count on state assistance in  laying water pipelines, gas pipelines, electricity networks, roads,  etc.

In the case of the U M Agro company, as the minister emphasized, we  are talking about laying a water pipe to the company's intensive  orchards and a large livestock farm, as well as building a pumping  station. The project itself for the construction of a water pipeline  and a pumping station will be carried out with the participation of  the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of the  Republic of Armenia.  For the implementation of such programs, as  Kerobyan noted, since last year there is a budget of about AMD 4bln. 

The total cost of the first stage of the investment program of U M  Agro will amount to 3.2 billion drams, which will be used for  breakdown orchards on an area of 300 hectares. To create almond  orchards on the ground stage, it is planned to invest 1.5 billion  drams, and at subsequent stages - another 500 million drams.  In the  first year of the project implementation, 15 main and 20 seasonal  jobs will be created. In the fifth year of the project, it is planned  to increase the number of jobs to 35 regular and 40 seasonal workers,  contributing to community development and employment. The average  monthly salary of employees is planned at the level of 200 thousand  drams. The competitive advantage of the project is that there are  almost no large almond orchards in Armenia. The implementation of the  project will increase the productivity of orchards, which in turn  will contribute to the development of the RA economy and the  expansion of exports.