As of August 12, 2016, Armenia’s exports of fresh fruits and vegetables to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) member-states showed a 90% increase as compared with the corresponding period of last year, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture Armen Harutyunyan told reporters on Friday.
“The EEU is the most convenient market for or agricultural produce now. The Ministry of Agriculture has focused on exports,” he said.
The ministry is working with the EEU in different formats.
“We are also improving our research institutes’ efficiency. We have recently discussed creation of produce exchanges. Moreover, free trade agreements with other states are being drafted,” Mr Harutyunyan said.
A free trade agreement was recently signed in Vietnam, but the document has not yet been published.
Asked whether the exports to Russia are the reason for the 90% export growth and what is being done to export agricultural produce to the other EEU member-states, Mr Harutyunyan said that exports of fresh fruits and vegetables are the major reason for the growth.
“And work to organize exports to the other member-states is in progress now. I think the reason for the growth is all types of procedures – food safety, customs control, and others – which enables small and medium-sized producers to enter the EEU market,” the official said.
An intergovernmental commission is to hold a meeting to discuss logistical issues.
“This is being done to ensure exports of Armenian agricultural produce to Kazakhstan,” Mr Harutyunyan said.
Work is being done to organize export of Armenian agricultural produce to other countries, and free trade agreements will soon be signed with ten countries.