ARMENIA-EU BUSINESS FORUM IN LUXEMBOURG NEXT SPRING

ARKA
Oct 14, 2008

YEERVAN, October 14. /ARKA/. Armenia-European Union (EU) business
forum will take place in Luxembourg next spring, Garegin Melkonyan,
the RA trade representative in the EU, told ARKA News Agency.

According to Melkonyan the forum is aimed at boosting business ties
and contacts between Armenian and EU institutions.

Melkonyan stressed on-site works and visits of business delegations are
very important as Armenia is geographically far from the EU countries.

"Two or three business visits of different delegations are organized
annually, aimed at encouraging business ties, as well as contacts
between Chambers of Commerce and Industry," said Melkonyan.

He noted that Armenia’s main trade partners in the EU include Belgium,
Germany, Holland, Italy and France.

Armenian-EU trade turnover reached $1,219.3mln this January-August,
an annual increase of 20.5%, and made 36.8% of Armenia’s total foreign
trade turnover.

Armenia’s exports to the EU amounted to $392mln (9.6% increase),
with imports amounting to $827.3mln (26.4% increase).

"In general, the diversification with the EU is well developed, but
at the same time works aimed at widening contacts are being carried
out," said Melkonyan.