Armenian Government approved the draft on structural changes at the session today.

According to Minister-Chief of Armenian Government Staff David Harutyunyan, the Ministry of Economy will be renamed to the Ministry of Investment and Entreprenership Support, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources will take the name of the Ministry of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Transport and Communication will be now called the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies.

The draft indicates that the Ministry of Urban Development will cease to act and exist as a ministry, but will be reintroduced as a committee affiliated with the Government.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan stressed that these changes are not goals in themselves, for instance, “absence of the word “economy” does not meat absence of economy”.

Touching upon the Ministry of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources, PM noted that apart from the change of name, it will also host the State Committee of Water Economy, which is to be transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture. Prime Minister informed that the IT sphere will be transferred to the Ministry of Transport and Communication from the the Ministry of Economy.

The tourism will also be out of the Ministry of Economy’s competence. As a separate agency, it will work to ensure development of the sphere and a definite number of tourists.

While speaking of dissolution of the Ministry of Urban Development, Prime Minister noted that he discussed it with the current acting Minister, and they intend to establish a Committee on Architecture and Protection of Cultural Values.

The Government decided that the National Assembly will hold an extraordinary session on September 26, where the MPs will discuss the draft on structural changes to the Government among other issues.