The building pictured here houses an electric resistors manufacturing plant that started operations at the start of this year. It’s close to the mayor’s office in the northern Armenian town of Noyemberyan.

Fact is, back during the Soviet era, the building housed a similar plant. Like other manufacturing plants of ythe day, it went belly up in the 1990s.

The building was purchased by private investors who turned the space into apartments, which were sold to Noyemberyan residents.

Now, Artamet Ltd. has come in and built the resistor plant. Residents are up in arms over the noise and potential health threats.

The plant makes the electronic resistors using ferrite.

Despite the complaints voiced by building occupants, the plant opened and now employs 30 or so people.

Artamet Director Gagik Abovyan used to own a similar plant in the village of Koghb during the Soviet era and now serves as president of the electoral commission in the 40th election district.

He confesses that he owes 20 workers $7,000 in back wages; or two months’ worth.

Abovyan says the company has orders from various military and medical equipment manufacturers in Russia. The part must be shipped out early next year and the director says that the number of employees will double to get the job completed on time.

But the company needs new automated machines to make the precision conductors now in demand. The new equipment will cost around 10 million AMD

Artamet has gone to various credit agencies, but the search has been fruitless.

Abovyan said that some banks are willing to grant loans at 15% yearly, but that such high rates are out of the question.

Artamet’s director said that he’s met with various government officials and Tavoush Regional Governor Armen Ghoularyan for assistance. No one seems interested.

Abovyan points with pride to the fact that the company has opened a small unit employing ten people in the Tavoush border village of Barekamavan.

Last year, RA Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorgyan, who also serves as Prime Minister, declared 2010 as the year of Barekamavan.

Abovyan points out that other than the All-Armenian Fund paying for the fall sowing of 30 hectares, Barekamavan saw little if any government assistance.