We must build economy setting aside ambitions and dreams - Arsen Ghazaryan

After the global economic recession, Armenia must make a real assessment of the existing situation and, setting aside all kinds of ambitions and dreams, elaborate realistic programs to promote the economy's development, says Arsen Ghazaryan, Head of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen.

"This time last year we were boldly predicting unrealistic figures for 2010. What we achieved is not enough, though I am satisfied," he told Tert.am.

Summing up the economic year, Ghazaryan said Armenia is still facing problems in terms of submitting statistics. "We must show real figures of gross domestic product and employment rate," he said.

In the meantime he stressed the need for increasing mortgage loan volumes, considering the demand on the market and the housing problems of the low and middle classes.

As a major problem of the country, Ghazaryan spoke of unemployment ,highlighting the importance of creating more jobs to prevent unemployment-driven emigration.

"If we follow the same track of administration and reforms, we'll have positive results in 2011. We must take measures to avoid the recurrence of the crisis. It is necessary to increase the number of enterprises and re-equip the existing ones. Exports need protection and support," he said, adding that the uncultivated agricultural lands, if tended, could greatly boost export in the country.