PACA program of Local Economic Prospering (Participatory Appraisal of Competitive Advantages) in Yeghegnadzor.

By the initiative of Armenian Young Women`s Association with the support of the German ProSME project, from the 2nd of July 2009, PACA (Participatory Appraisal of Competitive Advantages) project was implemented in Yeghegnadzor. During the project 12 members of the community have passed the training of methodology, 7 of which were included in the local economic prospering national network. Interviews and small meetings were made with nearly 50 entrepreneurs and active actors of Yeghegnadzor community. On this information economic competitional advantages of Yeghegnadzor, main and long-term branches, problems and ways to solve them were created, and after all these suggestions were made. The results will be published in the brochure and will be represented to the interested actors.
Relying on the competitional advantages and main perspective branches of economy of Yeghegnadzor community, small business ideas were suggested which can be implemented and have their results within 3-6 months.

On the 24th of July the PACA program results have been introduced in Yeghegnadzor. Actors from state, local, international, public organizations as well interested individuals took part in the meeting.

7 participants, who have passed the training of PACA methodology, were involved in the local economic prospering national network. Ms Lilit Asatryan, the president of Armenian Young Women`s Association mentioned the objective of the program, which is to involve the population in local economic development. "Each citizen of Yeghegnadzor can back up this work with a small instillation and support in creating an economically prospered community”, Lilit Asatryan said. The coordinator of the local economic program - Mr Rshtun Martirosyan mentioned "During the seminar the participants had tried to speak about problems and suggest their solutions. There are both strong and weak sides in Yeghegnadzor. Among local resources there are grape-products, wine-products, stone-processing and construction materials. But there are not many instillations for it, and the marketing is absent. We suggest several solutions, which will prosper those branches in the community. We also consider the implementation of the public work to be important in the community.