On Thursday, August 3, the Armenian government presented the list of its main economic partners, with which it has set itself the priority to develop its links. At the top of this list are 14 countries, including Russia, the United States, China, and the main members of the European Union. The list, which also includes the Iranian and Georgian neighbors, was drawn up by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and approved by Prime Minister Karen Karapetian at the weekly Cabinet meeting. It calls on the Armenian Government to make every effort to boost Armenian exports to these countries and to attract more investment and tourists. K. Karapetian called on the Armenian embassies in the countries concerned to do so. “Special attention must be paid to the countries quoted,” Armenian Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharian said at the meeting of the Council of Ministers, adding that the circle of the major economic partners of Armenia Was bound to widen thereafter. In its political program approved by the National Assembly last June, K.Karapetian’s government identified export development and the ability to attract foreign investment as its priorities. At the beginning of the year, the government undertook to ensure a double-digit increase in Armenian exports in the years to come. Although Russia ranks high on Armenia’s list of partners, and for good reason, since it remains its main economic and trade partner, on the other hand, it is not surprising that Armenia’s partners In the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), a union of ex-Soviet Republics led by Russia, which Armenia had enthusiastically embraced in January 2015.
The list, on the other hand, EU; Including France, Germany and Italy, with which Armenia had to limit its integration, because of rallying to the Eurasian Union of Putin. Armenian officials have preferred not to expand on this aspect. “The choice of countries is not conditioned by our membership in the EEU or any other union,” said Deputy Minister of Economic Development Garegin Melkonian in front of journalists, adding that “this list is destined to be extended in the future”.
According to the official figures of the Armenian government, Russia alone accounts for 97% of the trade volume between the Army and its EEU partners, about $ 760 million for the first half of the current year. Even if it is a member of the EEU, Armenia has privileged trade relations with the EU and the United States, two huge markets to which its exporters can access much more freely in terms of taxes. For the first six months of the year, Armenia’s trade volume with the EU and the United States amounted to $ 677 million and $ 73 million, respectively. Over the past decade, China has become one of Armenia’s main partners, and trade between the two countries has increased by 35% between January and June, reaching $ 243 million. Iran is also expected to become a major partner of Armenia, as Armenian President Serge Sarkisian recalled on the eve of an official visit to Tehran.
Friday, August 4, 2017,
Gari © armenews.com
Gari © armenews.com