ArmenPress
Dec 2 2004
ITALIANS WANT TO RESTORE SPITAK SUGAR-REFINERY
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenian agriculture minister
David Lokian told Armenpress that an Italian delegation that is due
in Armenia on December 6 will travel also to the town of Spitak to
learn on ground whether a former sugar-refinery there can be
restored.
According to previous estimations, redeveloping the Spitak region
with new investments for sugar beets processing – producing jobs and
sugar for Armenia, was estimated to require investments in the range
of $110-135 million.
Italians also intend to found a modern joint meat processing
venture and to promote Italian technologies in Armenia. Apart from
this the government of Italy has pledged to finance through UN Food
Agricultural Organization (FAO) a major project on potato
cultivation.
The minister said also a team of Armenian businessmen and experts
engaged in wine-making will fly next February to Thailand to pass
their experience to Thai counterparts.
Also agriculture experts from the Baltic states are coming soon to
Armenia to share their experience in building border check points.
The minister said effective cooperation with the US Department of
Agriculture Yerevan office will continue next year. Cooperation
arrangements were also reached with businessmen in the United Arab
Emirates, UN and other international organizations.