EU MEMBER STATES APPROVE TO START THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FREE TRADE TREATY WITH ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
JULY 9, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 9, ARMENPRESS: The EU member states approved to start
the negotiations on the free trade treaty with Armenia, during the
"Herankar" program of Shant TV Channel on July 7 the Armenian Economy
Minister Nerses Yeritsian noted stressing that the EU Free Trade Treaty
will create serious infrastructures and open up great opportunities
for Armenian entrepreneurs.

"Penetration into the markets opens up opportunities of quality
assessment. The entrance in such markets becomes more severe if a
corresponding quality is not ensured. The positive results will be
possible to feel also during the process of final signing of the
treaty," the Minister said.

According to him through the inter-state commissions an attempt is
made to study and understand the potential of other markets to make
the penetration of Armenian products in these markets easier.

Since January 1 this year Armenia has been making use of the EU
Generalized System of Preference (GSP+) trade regime. The states which
make use of the system are provided with opportunity to export nearly
6,400 sorts of products to the EU market on zero or considerably
reduced customs dues.

The Minister assured that the world financial-economic crisis will
not reflect on the implementation of serious economic projects in
the state. It will only make certain delays but also will provide
certain time period for the best preparation to them.

There is a progress in all the presupposed projects. Particularly a
concrete project is being discussed for the construction of North-South
highway with the Asian Development Bank the results of which will be
known in September-October.

The idea of Gyumri techno-park and the venture capital enters a final
round within the frameworks of WB project. In 2010 concrete works will
start in that direction. Certain projects have already been financed
in Gyumri and according to the Minister it is a great success. Two
prominent laboratories have been co-financed the first 23 graduates
of which will enter the field in the nearest future.

At the end of this year the concepts of the Gyumri techno-park or
techno-town will be presented to the public in an electronic variant
and the funding sources will be clear.