Tuesday, June 12 2012 19:00
Businessman: By controlling monopolies Armenian Government neutralizes influence of AMD/USD exchange rate on consumer prices
ArmInfo. The growing AMD/USD exchange rate is having no influence on consumer prices as the Government is controlling the monopolies and is fining unfair competitors, President of the Hovnanian International company, American-Armenian businessman Vahakn Hovnanian told Armenian journalists on June 12 2012.
He said that the importers will not raise the prices of the goods they imported when the rate was low until all of them are sold. If the rate continues to grow, the prices may rise, but formerly the prices jumped once there was a signal of growing exchange rate.
Hovnanian believes that the growing rate is good for the Armenian exporters who have preferred not to raise their prices. Further growth will be even better. For example, if $1 costs 480-490 AMD, the construction stone factory opened by Hovnanian International in Gyumri will be able to export its products to the United States.
Hovnanian believes that AMD's fall against USD has been caused by external factors, particularly, financial stability in Europe. 
Hence, if the European Union manages to stabilize the situation in its crisis-ridden member states, the situation on Armenia's currency market will also become stable.