PRIME MINISTER UNDERLINES EXISTENCE OF SERIOUS POTENTIAL IN FOOD PROCESSING SECTOR OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Jan 21, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. A consultation on problems and the
development opportunities of the processing sector of food industry
was conducted by the RA prime minister Tigran Sragsyan on January
21. Heads of several companies in Armenia’s agricultural processing
sector, representatives of interested ministries and departments took
part in the discussion.

The prime minister said that the studies show there is quite serious
potential in the sector so it is possible to ensure its normal
development in 2009 and years to come in case of efficient joint
efforts of the state and private sector. With the aim of making
good progress in food industry, he attached special importance to
clarification of the sector’s priority directions and possible state
assistance by holding joint discussions. The prime minister announced
that the government has already made some calculations to find out
how much the capacities of the operating enterprises can be increased
in the sector – by commodities they produce.

However, according to him, receiving direct information about
the problems and proposals for development from the sector’s
representatives will make future decisions more realistic.

The RA minister of agriculture Aramais Grigorian presented the
situation in the sector and its development opportunities. The
discussion participants shared the opinion that the importers currently
have greater opportunities in food industry than domestic producers
(due to many factors) which is not conducive to expansion of the
production.

After discussing all the problems and the proposals made by
representatives of the ministry of agriculture and the private sector,
the prime minister instructed the ministries of economy and agriculture
and the RA State Revenue Committee to summarize them and submit a
program of measures within two days.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, the
prime minister conducted a consultation on problems of light industry
the day before.