Private money transfers to Armenia total $663.6mln at first half of 2007

YEREVAN, September 11. /ARKA/. Private money transfers to Armenia totaled $663.6mln at the first half of 2007 after growing 37.84%, compared with the same period a year earlier.

Central Bank of Armenia says individuals received 10.77% greater amount in Armenian drams at the 1st half of 2007, compared with the same period of 2006. Growth in U.S. dollars made 37.84%.

The number of transfers to Armenia grew 21.79% to 712.4thnd.

International swift transfers to individuals without opening accounts reached 63.89% of total transfers to Armenia against 56.48% at the same period of 2006.
The number of these transfers made 93.78% of total number of transfers to Armenia against 88.85% at the compared period.

According to the Central Bank’s information, Unistream is the leader among international payment systems, since the greatest amount - AMD 73bln or $204.6mln - and the greatest number – 239578 – of transfers were operated through it at the first half of 2007.

Armenian citizens transferred the amount equal to AMD 145.1bln abroad at the first half of 2007. This is 3.29% smaller amount than at the same period of 2006.
In dollars, this amount grew 20.34% to $406.7mln. The number of transfers grew 18.74% to 64.7thnd.

The Central Bank says 11.91% of total amount of the amount and 59.32% of the total number of transfers sent from Armenia abroad at the first half of 2007 were operated through international systems.

According to the Central Bank’s report, Armenian commercial banks participate in SWIFT, Western Union (15 banks), Money Gram (1 bank), Anelik (8 banks), Unistream (3 banks), “Bistraya Pochta” (6 banks), Interexpress (2 banks), Contact (3 banks), Leader (3 banks), Migom (6 banks), Private Money Transfer, STB Express, Faster, “Blizko” and “Zhivie Dengi” international systems. Besides, non-banking organizations Haypost (Armpost), Contact, Travelex, Stefi and “Depi Tun” take part in systems operating private transfers.-0---