Vine-growing and wine industry fund to be established in Armenia
24.06.2016,
12:23
The Armenian Cabinet ministers decided at their regular Thursday meeting to establish a vine-growing and wine industry fund.
YEREVAN, June 24. /ARKA/. The Armenian Cabinet ministers decided at their regular Thursday meeting to establish a vine-growing and wine industry fund.
Agriculture Minister Sergo Karapetyan said that the aim of the fund establishment is to support the government-run programs and to retain the success achieved in this area.
Speaking at the session about faults, he said that they are due to the fact that the country’s wine unions and associations are not able to pursue a single policy of development.
Ways to improve the quality of grapes and wine have not been found so far in Armenia. Besides, it is necessary to set a single Armenian brand and to boost it.
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, on his side, said he pins great hopes on this fund establishment.
He also said that a similar fund in Georgia has already produced significant results – 25 million bottles of wine have been exported over five months.
According to the Armenian customs service, Armenia exported 1,451,600 liters of wine worth $4.1 million (customs cost) in 2015 against 2,120,700 liters worth $6.3 million in 2014 - 31.5% decline.
As much as 79 percent of Armenia’s wine exports goes to Russia – 1,150,600 liters ($2.9 million) were sent to Russia in 2015 and 1,713,800 liters ($4.4 million) in 2014.
The National Statistical Service of Armenia says the country’s wine output shrank 4% to 5,931,900 liters in 2015. ($1 – AMD 476.32). --0----
