Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian stated in Yerevan today that the crisis prevention program of the government gave its positive results.

Speaking at the session of the government, Tigran Sargsian stated that due to the extensive tax-budgetary and monetary-credit policy, in the first quarter, 2010, GDP index 2.5 times exceeded the index, planned by the government for the given period.

According to him, following the results of the first quarter, tax proceeds to the state budget made 126bln AMD instead of the planned 117bln AMD, and the social payments – 26bln AMD instead of the planned 22bln AMD.

Armenian Prime Minister informed that in the accounting period, the salary in the country increased by 5.8%. Tigran Sargsian stated that in the first quarter, the increase in export made about 53%, and import – 16%.

“We managed to increase export volume due to growth in industry. Mining raw materials industry increased by 45%, the processing industry – by 9%, production of construction materials doubled. Diamond and gold industry demonstrated high speeds of growth, and all these sectors were the ones to improve the situation in export”, Prime Minister of Armenia stated.

Tigran Sargsian started that inflation is still the most problematic issue. “We have entered a stage of quite high inflation speeds and this is conditioned by the extensive tax-budgetary policy, which, on the one hand stimulates economic growth, on the other – creates inflationary pressures”, the Prime Minister noted.

According to him, in February-March, 2010, inflation of 2.9% was registered. Prime Minister noted that the government and the Central Bank of Armenia possess certain tools to deter inflationary pressures.

“An agreement is reached with the World Bank, according to which all macroeconomic indices of 2010 will have neutral influence on inflation, and if we manage to maintain high speeds in tax collection, we will also manage to also realize deterring policy”, he stated.