Opening of Armenian-Turkish border to have positive impact on
Armenia’s economy
25.09.2009 10:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Opening of Armenian-Turkish border will have
positive impact on Armenia’s economy, Ameriabank’s Development
Department Director Tigran Jrbashyan told today a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. `Such impact will not assume large scales, as many
specialists claim, because market integration between two countries
will take certain time.’ The principal advantage, according to him,
consisted in lowering prices due to reduced transportation costs and
weakening Georgian carriers’ monopolistic bonus. `Transportation costs
which currently make up 25% of our products’ price which can be
reduced twice,’ expert said.

Besides, he noted, that Armenia hasn’t closed its borders for Turkish
products, so there’s no need to fear damping policy. `Maximum gain for
Turkey will be exemption from paying bonus to Georgian transit
carriers. Armenia has been always open for Turkish products which were
represented on our markets, competing with local and Russian goods,’
he added.

Ameriabank’s Development Director believes border opening will create
great potential for cooperation in many spheres, particularly energy,
construction materials, tourism and chemical production (in
Turkey-Armenia direction).

Besides, Jrbashyan finds it natural that `Local manufacturers should
have fears, since border opening will intensify competitiveness. If we
are afraid of Turkish manufacturers on local market, how can we
compete with them on European level?’ According to him, `Fair
competition has always promoted investments, and that’s normal because
manufacturers who can compete with Turkish producers on local market
should give chances to those who cannot. That will increase the
country’s investment attractiveness,’ expert said.