Low quality products and absence of government support impeding wines export
13.12.2010,
18:33
Low quality products and absence of a government-designed policy to help boost exports are the main obstacles impeding expansion of Armenia’s trade with foreign countries, said Avag Harutyunian, chairman of the Union of Armenian Winemakers Saturday.
YEREVAN, December 13, /ARKA/. Low quality products and absence of a government-designed policy to help boost exports are the main obstacles impeding expansion of Armenia’s trade with foreign countries, said Avag Harutyunian, chairman of the Union of Armenian Winemakers Saturday.
Speaking at a conference in Yerevan on ways to stimulate Armenian exports, he said low quality products, absence of modern equipment and technology and unskilled personnel are the main problems that should be addressed in the first place.
He also said absence of a government policy to promote Armenian wines outside the country, particularly, absence of an agency to certify locally produced wines is another export-constraining factor.
He then pointed out some legislative, taxation and customs related problems, stressing the very large cost of the license for production of grape vodka and brandy.
The main external factor impeding exports of Armenian wines is the Iranian ban on transit of alcoholic drinks through its territory. He said there are serious problems also in exporting Armenian wines through Turkey. Besides, Georgia has also banned export of wines through Upper Lars border check point on its border with Russia.
According to the Union of Armenian Winemakers’ data, last year some 437,000 hectoliters of wine were produced. The lowest wine production index was reported in 1943 -103,000 hectoliters of wine and the highest in 1978 -897,000 hectoliters.
Brandy production last year totaled 99,000 hectoliters, down from 141,000 hectoliters in 2007. Last year Armenia exported 92,000 hectoliters of brandy, down from 151,000 hectoliters in 2007. -0-
Speaking at a conference in Yerevan on ways to stimulate Armenian exports, he said low quality products, absence of modern equipment and technology and unskilled personnel are the main problems that should be addressed in the first place.
He also said absence of a government policy to promote Armenian wines outside the country, particularly, absence of an agency to certify locally produced wines is another export-constraining factor.
He then pointed out some legislative, taxation and customs related problems, stressing the very large cost of the license for production of grape vodka and brandy.
The main external factor impeding exports of Armenian wines is the Iranian ban on transit of alcoholic drinks through its territory. He said there are serious problems also in exporting Armenian wines through Turkey. Besides, Georgia has also banned export of wines through Upper Lars border check point on its border with Russia.
According to the Union of Armenian Winemakers’ data, last year some 437,000 hectoliters of wine were produced. The lowest wine production index was reported in 1943 -103,000 hectoliters of wine and the highest in 1978 -897,000 hectoliters.
Brandy production last year totaled 99,000 hectoliters, down from 141,000 hectoliters in 2007. Last year Armenia exported 92,000 hectoliters of brandy, down from 151,000 hectoliters in 2007. -0-
