IFC discusses food safety project worth $500,000 with Armenian retailers

YEREVAN, May 17. /ARKA/. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) discussed today with representatives of Armenia’s large chains of supermarkets ways to enhance food safety in trade outlets and presented its food safety improvement project worth $500,000 to them.  

 

The three-year project was launched in Armenia in May 2012.

IFC’s Armenia Food Safety Improvement Project Manager Maia Tevzadze said the project is designed to improve food safety in Armenia’s retail supply chain.  

She said that the IFC has surveyed companies to see things in Armenia and producers’ awareness of food safety standards, including Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point. 

The survey showed, she said, that only five of 30 surveyed companies have introduced this technology, but many expressed wish to apply this system. “This prompted us to start implementing this project to support companies,” Tezadze said adding that IFC provides advice to companies under this program. 

Several dozens of companies will get trainings and advise under the project. 

The expert said that introduction of safety systems is necessary especially for export-oriented food producers, since it will be very difficult to them to export their products without these systems. 

   

She said the highest-risk companies in Armenia are first of all dairies and meet-producing companies. 

Abram Bakhchagulyan, head of Armenia’s State Food Safety Agency, on his side, stressed that food safety is among Armenia’s top-priority focuses now, and therefore the country needs substantial legal and practical changes.  

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, mobilizing capital in international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments.

Armenia became a member and a shareholder of IFC in 1995. Since then, IFC has invested $244 million in 40 projects across a range of sectors, including financial markets, manufacturing, and mining. ---0---