CHRISTMAS TREE BUSINESS IN ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES’ HANDS?

news.am
Dec 21 2009
Armenia

Armenian citizens wishing to buy a Christmas tree this year will have
to fork out U.S. $50 to $200. One of the central avenues in Yerevan has
"hosted" Christmas tree sale outlets. All the trees have been imported
from Siberia and Saratov, Russia, as well as from Germany and Holland.

The sellers say the business in "in the hands" of the Armenian
authorities.

Well, a 1.5-meter high pine from Siberia is worth from 30,000 AMD up
(over U.S. $80), its "sister" from Saratov is worth 22,000 AMD (U.S.

$55). A 2-meter-high "beauty" from Germany is 65,000 AMD (U.S. $175),
and a tree from Holland will cost U.S. $150.

The sellers say that about 900 trees from Saratov and 700 from
Holland have been brought to Yerevan. They plan to sell them out
before December 31. But, as a rule, many firs can be found at sale
outlets on January 1 morning – they are used as fuel later.

The average retail price for a fir is U.S. $15 in Europe, and a
2-meter-high tree is within U.S. $80. The wholesale price is even
lower, gp24.pl. reports.