Armenia registers stable growth with EAEU member-states: Nikol Pashinyan

Armenia has registered stable trade growth with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states, acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the opening of Eurasian Week international conference in Yerevan.

“In January-June 2018 the export volume from Armenia to the EAEU countries grew by 31.3% making 351,9 million USD,” Nikol Pashinyan said, adding that this growth has been registered thanks to the markets of all the EAEU countries.

The acting PM also stressed that the conference takes place during an important period for Armenia when deep transformations are taking place in country’s both political and economic systems.

“It is obvious that these systems are being outlined with the consideration of EAEU integration potential. This forum may be a good platform for summing up the medium results of this integration process, especially ahead of passing the presidency of the EAEU Council to Armenia,” Pashinyan said.

“Armenia has already started discussions of issues which will be its priorities in the organization during its presidency,” he said.

“Today more than 300 Armenian companies are participating in the event ready for long-term cooperation with the EAEU. The presence of these businessmen proves the importance of this conference,” Pashinyan said.

He also drew the attention of the participants to several issues, voicing hope that they will also become subject for discussion.

“The first is that the EAEU member states and Iran have signed temporary agreement as a first step for forming free economic zone with Iran. Armenia is the only country in the organization which has land border with that country. The existence of the common border and the creation of free economic zone in Meghri [bordering Iran] creates additional impetus for development of trade economic relations,” he stressed, adding that Armenia can become an acting platform for establishment of reliable trade-economic ties between Iran and the EAEU member states.

“The second important issue is continuation of negotiations over signing free trade agreements with all the countries who want to boost their cooperation with all the member states of the organization. In this regard we are ready to involve Egypt in the process,” Pashinyan said, stressing its significance regarding its developed high technology sector and its importance for Armenia in particular.