‘Now we are working with mutual discomfort’ – Prime Minister

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the procurement sector, stating, ‘Is there any point in creating an institutional mechanism for improving the procurement sector that functions independently of the directives?’

Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan responded to the Prime Minister, noting that they have initiated the process of drafting a new procurement law starting from 2024. According to Hovhannisyan, the current law was established in a different reality. ‘The reality we are in now and the reality in which the law was written has changed significantly even in terms of volume, and we believe there is a need to do something new here,’ he said.

The Prime Minister pointed out that since 2019, the funding volumes for certain sectors have doubled. However, there have been inspections, criminal cases have been initiated, and by 2023, funding levels have returned to those of 2018. ‘The reason is this; we are being accused of giving money and then picking up stones and sticks, following us around. We do not want that. But we also do not want there to be any abuses. Thus, we need to ensure that these dilemmas are first addressed through the flexibility of procurement legislation, so that companies will work with us joyfully. Right now, we are working with mutual discomfort because everyone is suspicious of each other, which is problematic, especially when suspicions manifest in one or two places. It undermines the field and creates an atmosphere where it is better not to do anything than to do something,’ he added.