YEREVAN, January 26. /ARKA/. The Armenian-Russian investment fund will be established in the coming months, the economic development and investment minister Suren Karayan said today.
It was Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan who proposed that an Armenian-Russian investment fund to be set up with a view to funding Armenia’s priority economic sectors. According to the Armenian government, the Russian side positively assessed the proposal. During Karapetyan’s official visit to Moscow earlier this week the parties looked at the possibility of Russian companies’ involvement in the free economic zone to be established near the Armenian-Iranian border. Appreciating the proposal, Russian Premier Dmitry Medvedev expressed the opinion that Russian companies will show interest in this issue.
Speaking to local reporters today, Suren Karayan said the main purpose of the fund is financing and investment in sectors that will lead to growth of trade turnover between the countries, substitution of imported goods, development of industrial cooperation and growth of exports.
He said that during prime minister’s visit to the Russian capital numerous meetings and discussions were held with representatives of the Russian government and Russian businessmen of Armenian origin, who expressed their willingness to make investments in Armenia.
According to Karayan, the Russian side is interested in Armenia’s energy sector, renewable energy, agricultural products and mining industry. The minister noted that similar negotiations are being held not only with Russia but other countries as well.
The idea was discussed also by Karayan and Russian industry and trade minister Denis Manturov on January 23