YEREVAN, March 10. /ARKA/. Armenia has already embarked on establishment of an office for coordinating construction programs being implemented in cooperation with Asian Development Bank, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said Wednesday at his meeting with Werner Lipack, vice president of the bank’s department on central and western regions.

Sargsyan said that Armenia attaches importance to cooperation with Asian Development Bank.

North-South highway construction was among the issues discussed at the meeting.

The premier said that construction of this road is one of Armenian government’s top-priority focuses.

Creation of free trade zone in Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport was among topics under discussion.

The Armenian prime minister and the representative of Asian Development Bank also spoke about railway construction and development of transportation links.

Sargsyan expressed appreciation of the bank’s support.

He said he has instructed the economy ministry to work out a comprehensive export-spurring program for 2010.

The premier expressed hope that involvement of the bank’s experts in this project will be useful to Armenia.

Asian Development Bank has already provided $21.4 million of $48 million under the tree-year program aimed at recovery of rural roads.

The Asian Development Bank was established in 1966. The bank has 67 members.

Armenia joined the bank on September 20, 2005.

Armenia has signed a number of agreements and the mutual understanding memorandum with the Asian Development Bank.

The bank’s rural road and water supply projects in Armenia are estimated to cost $83 million.-0--