ARMENIA’S IMPORT SECTOR SHOWS LOW COMPETITION LEVEL, IMF REP SAYS
mation-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 9 2009
Armenia
15:18 / 09/09/2009At NEWS.am reporter’s request, IMF Resident
Representative in Armenia Nienke Oomes explained why the Global
Competitiveness Report 2009-2010 recently published by the Global
Economic Forum ranks Armenia 97th. Armenia is still a transitional
economy, which, however, has numerous market factors and mechanisms,
Oomes said. Nevertheless, she agrees that Armenia’s competitiveness is
not at a satisfactory level. Since Armenia is a very narrow market,
with borders closed, the import sector shows a very low competition
level. The IMF believes that the reopening of borders will enhance
Armenia’s competitiveness. Armenia’s relations with Turkey will give
an impetus to competition, Oomes said.
It is noteworthy that Azerbaijan has the highest score from among the
CIS member-countries – it ranks 51st against 69th last year. All the
other CIS member-countries registered regress: Russia ranks 63rd (51st
last year); Kazakhstan 67th (66th last year); Georgia 90th (90th last
year); Ukraine 82nd (72nd last year); Armenia 97th (97th last year).
Switzerland ranks 1st in the Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010,
followed by the United States, Singapore and Sweden, with Denmark
being in the top five.