YEREVAN, December 30. /ARKA/. Lending in Armenia grew by AMD 138 billion in 2010, compared with the previous year, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said Thursday at a regular meeting of the cabinet ministers.

“It means economic entities will have an exceptional chance to utilize them in 2011,” he said.

The premier finds it important that interest rates were lowered and loans became available to economic entities in 2010.

He said that banks have sufficient financial resources, and interest rates would be even lower in 2011.

Sargsyan pointed out Armenian banking system’s profit totaling AMD 30-billion against AMD 8 billion in 2009 as one of achievements in 2010.

“It means the finance system will constitute an important stabilizing reserve in 2011.” ($1 = AMD 362.84). -0—