Armenian companies were unable to use new opportunities to boost exports to Russia and EU in 2015, MP says
11.01.2016,
14:04
Gagik Minasyan, the chairman of an Armenian parliamentary committee on budget and finance issues from the governing Republican Party of Armenia, criticized today local companies for appearing unable to use new opportunities that opened last year to boost their exports to Russia and the European Union.
YEREVAN, January 11. /ARKA/. Gagik Minasyan, the chairman of an Armenian parliamentary committee on budget and finance issues from the governing Republican Party of Armenia, criticized today local companies for appearing unable to use new opportunities that opened last year to boost their exports to Russia and the European Union.
Citing official numbers, which say that Armenian imports in 2015 slashed by 20-30%, while exports fell only by 2-3%, he argued that export opportunities did not depend on the pace of decline in imports.
According to Minasyan, Armenian authorities and companies should more actively work with regional authorities in the Russian Federation.
"We need to find ways to diversify our export opportunities and, in this context, I believe that we, in particular, do not fully use the preferential duties granted to us by the EU’s GSP + scheme", said Minasyan.
According to Minasyan, companies need to make fresh investments in the production of agricultural produces to enhance the intensity of supplies to Russia and make Russian consumers get used to Armenian products, especially after Russia banned imports of many goods from Turkey. He added that the ban made companies in Central Asia and Azerbaijan look for new ways to increase their exports of agricultural goods to Russia.
"There is one more barrier that must be overcome - the devaluation of the Russian ruble, whose behavior is difficult to predict. Nonetheless, Armenian companies should think about how to increase their exports to Russia,’ he said.
According to statistical data, Armenia’s foreign trade in January-November 2015 fell by 20.6% year-on-year to about $4.313.6 billion. Exports were said to have dropped by 4.7% to $1.345.2 billion, while imports decreased by 26.2% to about $2.968.4 billion. As a result, the negative foreign trade amounted to $1.623.2 billion. -0-
Citing official numbers, which say that Armenian imports in 2015 slashed by 20-30%, while exports fell only by 2-3%, he argued that export opportunities did not depend on the pace of decline in imports.
According to Minasyan, Armenian authorities and companies should more actively work with regional authorities in the Russian Federation.
"We need to find ways to diversify our export opportunities and, in this context, I believe that we, in particular, do not fully use the preferential duties granted to us by the EU’s GSP + scheme", said Minasyan.
According to Minasyan, companies need to make fresh investments in the production of agricultural produces to enhance the intensity of supplies to Russia and make Russian consumers get used to Armenian products, especially after Russia banned imports of many goods from Turkey. He added that the ban made companies in Central Asia and Azerbaijan look for new ways to increase their exports of agricultural goods to Russia.
"There is one more barrier that must be overcome - the devaluation of the Russian ruble, whose behavior is difficult to predict. Nonetheless, Armenian companies should think about how to increase their exports to Russia,’ he said.
According to statistical data, Armenia’s foreign trade in January-November 2015 fell by 20.6% year-on-year to about $4.313.6 billion. Exports were said to have dropped by 4.7% to $1.345.2 billion, while imports decreased by 26.2% to about $2.968.4 billion. As a result, the negative foreign trade amounted to $1.623.2 billion. -0-
