Armenia, Iran May Sign Free Trade Agreement in October: Ambassador
23.09.2010,
03:01
Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Seyed Ali Saghayan, said today a free trade agreement between Iran and Armenia could be signed during Armenian prime minister, Tigran Sarkisian’s visit to Iran, scheduled for October.
YEREVAN, September 22, /ARKA/. Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Seyed Ali Saghayan, said today a free trade agreement between Iran and Armenia could be signed during Armenian prime minister, Tigran Sarkisian’s visit to Iran, scheduled for October.
He said the draft document had been initialled last year when Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan visited Tehran and shortly afterwards both sides git down to work on it. He said hopes are high that the agreement will be finalized before Tigran Sarkisian's visit to Iran and the sides will sign it.
Last week some Iranian newspapers claimed the agreement will be signed during Armenian economy minister Nerses Yeritsian’s upcoming visit to Iran. Citing the official IRNA news agency, the English-language daily The Tehran Times said the issue was discussed by Iranian commerce minister Mehdi Ghazanfari and the Armenian ambassador in Tehran, Grigor Arakelian.
According to Armenian National Statistical Service (NSS), Armenia’s trade with Iran in Jan.-July of 2010 it totaled $113 million, rising by 32.% year-on-year, accounting for only 5% percent of Armenia’s overall external exchange in the first seven months of this year. Armenian exports to Iran grew by 0.1% to $13.2 million (2,6% of all exports), while the imports grew by 38% to almost $100 million. -0-
He said the draft document had been initialled last year when Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan visited Tehran and shortly afterwards both sides git down to work on it. He said hopes are high that the agreement will be finalized before Tigran Sarkisian's visit to Iran and the sides will sign it.
Last week some Iranian newspapers claimed the agreement will be signed during Armenian economy minister Nerses Yeritsian’s upcoming visit to Iran. Citing the official IRNA news agency, the English-language daily The Tehran Times said the issue was discussed by Iranian commerce minister Mehdi Ghazanfari and the Armenian ambassador in Tehran, Grigor Arakelian.
According to Armenian National Statistical Service (NSS), Armenia’s trade with Iran in Jan.-July of 2010 it totaled $113 million, rising by 32.% year-on-year, accounting for only 5% percent of Armenia’s overall external exchange in the first seven months of this year. Armenian exports to Iran grew by 0.1% to $13.2 million (2,6% of all exports), while the imports grew by 38% to almost $100 million. -0-
