YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatrian is in Manila (Philippines) on February 19-23 to participate in negotiations with high-ranking officials of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as ADB Armenian manager. NT was informed from the ministry's press service that the delegation headed by the minister is composed of Davit Avetisian, RA Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy, ADB deputy manager, and Areg Barseghian, ADB Armenian representative. On February 19 Vardan Khachatrian had meetings with Haruhiko Kuroda, ADB Chairman, Likun Jin, ADB Deputy Chairman, Masaki Omura, ADB board member/director (represents Japan), Juan Miranda, Director General of ADB Central and West Asia Regional Department, and other officials. According to the same source, a number of issues related to ADB-Armenia cooperation were discussed. Being a new donor-partner of Armenia, the ADB envisages to implement several programs aimed at developing the Armenian economy. Agriculture, transport and the financial sector are possible spheres of cooperation with the ADB. The Republic of Armenia became ADB member on September 20, 2005, joining the the Asian Development Bank Foundation Agreement. A number of agreements and mutual understanding memorandums have been signed between the Armenian government and the Asian Development Bank.

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