ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PAYS A WORKING VISIT TO ARARAT AND ARMAVIR PROVINCE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
paid a working visit to the `Massis Tobacco’ factory, got acquainted
with the production powers, walked in the factory, spoke with the
leadership and employees. During the working visit the president was
accompanied by vice prime minister, territorial administration
minister Armen Gevorgyan, agriculture minister Gerasim Alaverdyan,
Ararat governor Vardges Hovakimyan. In the factory they were
accompanied by the president of the company Hrant Vardanyan.
This year in January-September the company exported 30,968 boxes of
cigarette production costing 3 million 408,632 USD. A ready product is
being exported to USA, Russia, Sweden, Georgia, Abkhazia, Iraq,
Turkmenistan, China, Afghanistan, Zambia, Israel. The raw cigarette is
being exported to Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Georgia, Egypt,
Belgium.
Hrant Vardanyan said that the global financial-economic crisis will
not impede very much the development of such small companies as
Armenia if all the businessmen, collectives continue their natural
activity. `Who works will not be effected by the crisis,’ H. Vardanyan
said, expressing assurance that the crisis had a very small impact on
the food industry.
H. Vardanyan said the opening of the border with Turkey will create
new market and concerns that products will be imported from Turkey and
create troubles for producers.
`Massis Tobacco’ ensures 900 people with jobs some of them work for
a season and 520 are permanent employees.
Armenian president also visited in Ararat province the Aygavan
branch of the Yerevan Brandy Factory, then Armavir’s `MAP’ company.