During today’s session, the Armenian government made changes in the conditions of the state support program for leasing agro-food equipment in Armenia.

Presenting the issue, Minister of Economy Tigran Khachatryan stated the following: “This leasing program can help provide funding for modular and mobile slaughterhouses. The Ministry of Economy is conducting monitoring to know the extent to which the existing slaughterhouses are available and has mapped the locations of slaughterhouses in the country so that the distance from each settlement is logical and reasonable. We have chosen 30 km distance as a standard.”

The minister added that there are currently 23 operating slaughterhouses, and another 36 will start operating soon. The minister also said there will be regional communities that won’t be quite close to the slaughterhouses and listed the 14 locations where construction of slaughterhouses is preferable, including three in Syunik Province, one in Gegharkunik Province, two in Ararat, Lori and Aragatsotn Provinces each and four in Shirak Provinces.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan added the following: “There is an epidemic in Armenia, and based on forecasts, there will be challenges during the epidemic. We have to put an end to selling and buying meat slaughtered on asphalts as soon as possible.”