SUGAR IMPORTING ARMENIA MAKES EXPORT PLANS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5. ARMINFO. In 2005 the Sevan Sugar Plant has sold
1,500 tons of sugar in the home market against 650 tons in 2004.

The company’s director general Armen Arakelyan says that their
production is sold to 5-6 local producers – Zovq, Artashat Cannery,
Euroterm (producers of Noyan juice). Arakelyan notes that by the
end of this year the company is planning to start sugar export but
refuses to say whereto.

He says that the plant buys raw materials in Brazil. In 2005 the
company has imported 2,000 tons of raw materials against 900 ton in
2004. Arakelyan says that the production growth is due mainly to the
plant’s continuous operation.

The State COmmission for Economic Competition Protection reports
that the 97.% of the Armenian sugar sales are in the hands of the
Astghatsolq Ltd owned by MP Samvel Aleksanyan. The Sevan Sugar Plant
is the only sugar producing company in Armenia. The Customs Service
reports that 100,000-120,00 tons of sugar is imported into Armenia
each year.