ARMENIA TO TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION IN PARIS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Feb 8 2007

YEREVAN, February 8. /ARKA/. Armenia intends to take part in an
international agricultural exhibition in Paris on March 3-11, 2007.

The Public Relations Department, RA Ministry of Agriculture reports
that this issue was discussed at a meeting between RA Minister of
Agriculture David Lokyan and French Ambassador to Armenia Serge
Smessov.

Armenia’s participation in the exhibition is also important in the
light of declaration of the year 2007 a Year of Armenia in France.

The sides pointed out the priority of bilateral cooperation in
vine-growing, wine-making and veterinary.

Ambassador Smessov expressed the French side’s readiness to render
necessary assistance in consolidating Armenian-French cooperation.

The sides also addressed the current level of bilateral agricultural
cooperation and prospects for development.

They pointed out the activities of the Pernod Ricard Company in
Armenia as one of the best examples of bilateral cooperation.

In June 1998, the Pernod Ricard Company purchased the Yerevan Brandy
Company (YBC) for $30mln. In January-September 2006, French direct
investments in Armenia totaled $6.3mln.

French capital is mainly invested in Armenia’s food and beverage
production and private service sector.