Raffi Mkhchyan: ‘Gates of paradise’ will not open for Armenia in 2015

Armenian exporters suffered considerable losses because of the unstable market and the ruble collapse, Chairman of the Union of Exporters of Armenia Raffi Mkhchyan told reporters today. 

He proposed starting to conduct trade with Russia in dollars, noting that business dictates the policy.

According to Mkhchyan, exports from Armenia can be divided into three groups: exports of mining products (65% of Armenian exports), exports of foods and light industry goods, and exports of IT products.

As regards Armenia’s upcoming membership of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) in 2015, Raffi Mkhchyan noted that the ‘gates of paradise’ will not open for Armenia from 2015. The export terms will only be simplified, but it is not clear what prices Georgia as a transit country will set for transit of goods through its territory.