Armenan-Belgian economic relations with stable prospects

YEREVAN, December 19. /ARKA/. Armenian-Belgian trade and economic relations have long-term and stable prospects on the basis of traditions and experience, Director of the Armenian Development Agency (ADA) Tigran Davtyan stated at a meeting with members of the Belgian economic mission.

“We hope that the Armenian-Belgian trade and economic cooperation will not only be expanded, but also acquire new formats, including invest ones, which will contribute to the establishment of diversified economic relations between our countries,” he said.

According to Davtyan, this visit is logical development of Armenian-Belgian economic cooperation, particularly the Armenian-Belgian Summit held in Brussels late in 2007 as part of RA President Robert Kocharyan’s official visit to Belgium.

“After the Brussels meeting we managed to co-organize a mission of Belgian businessmen and representatives of private Belgian companies in Armenia, which allowed them to get acquainted with Armenia’s economic and business potential,” Davtyan said.

In this context, the ADA Director reported that actual results were reached during the visit.
“Belgian businessmen reached arrangements with Armenian enterprises about specific programs,” Davtyan said. He added that Armenian businessmen gained quite positive impressions as well.

Belgian Ambassador to Armenia Charles Ghislain pointed out that this visit is an attempt to find the golden mean in the economic relations between Armenian and Belgian businessmen in the context of their economic activities.

The two countries have no common geographic border and have restricted information on each other, which is the principal reason for the Belgian businessmen’s visit to Armenia, he said. Ambassador Chislain added that Armenian businessmen are expected to pay a return visit to Belgium in the near future.

The Belgian delegation which was on a visit to Armenia on December 18-19 included representatives of over 12 organizations and companies producing pipes, stone-working equipment, chocolate, concentrates for poultry, as well as companies rendering Internet and satellite communication services, etc..

The Belgian delegation was informed of Armenia’s macroeconomic indicators, investment and business potential, as well as of the situation on Armenia’s financial market.

In January-October 2007, Armenian-Belgian trade decreased by 6.7% down to $179.8mln. Armenia’s exports to Belgium totalled $82.8mln – an 11.9% decrease compared to the corresponding period last year.

Armenia’s imports of Belgian products totalled $96.9mln – a 1.8% decrease. Armenia’s imports from Belgium totalled $134.3mln – a 4.8% increase.–0--