ARMENIA POSTS 11.8 PERCENT GDP GROWTH IN HALF 1

Armenpress

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenia GDP in the first half of 2006
rose to 809.235 billion Drams, posting an 11.8 percent year-on-year
growth. The growth against May was 40.7 percent.

Armstat said industrial output, not counting indirect taxes, amounted
to 300.7 billion Drams. Not counting diamond sector, the figure was
299.1 billion Drams, while not counting power, gas, water production
and distribution it was 244.6 billion Drams.

Armenia produced in the first half of 2006 3.2 billion kilowatt hours
electricity, down 7 percent from a year ago. Agricultural output in
this time span was 118.9 billion Drams, which was 7.2 percent higher
from a year ago.

The volume of major construction, in money terms, was 165.6 billion
drams, 32 percent higher on year-on-year terms. The volume of retain
trade across the country rose to 320.7 billion Drams, a 12 percent
increase from a year ago.