Petr Mikyska: Armenian brandy is the most popular Armenian product on Czech market

ArmInfo. Armenian brandy is the most popular Armenian product on the Czech market, unfortunately currently only "Ararat" is presented on the market, as other Armenian brands are not imported to the Czech Republic yet, Czech Ambassador to Armenia Petr Mikyska said in a talk with ArmInfo's correspondent.

"Ararat" is very poplar in Czech presidential palace; all the important negotiations are finished with Armenian brandy. However, there is another promising item for export- Armenian wine. When I first arrived in Armenia in 2012 it was very difficult to find decent wine, as Armenian consumer prefers semi- sweet or sweet wines while Europeans are used to dry wine. Fortunately, currently there are wines in Armenian market competitive in Europe, and this is a good opportunity for Armenia to become a country exporting wine as it had done for many centuries. And the first steps on Czech direction have already been made, the Ambassador informed, adding that Armenian wines are sold on the Czech market at 10-11 EUR in average.

According to the Ambassador agricultural products are another promising item for import. Currently Spanish and Belgian vegetables prevail on the Czech market, which are beautiful and cheap but not very tasty while Armenian agricultural products are natural, maybe they do not look very beautiful but by taste indicator they surpass and their price will accordingly be higher. There is also an opportunity to establish import of preserved food, the diplomat mentioned.

According to him, export of ferromolybdenum is on the second place after brandy. And again the issue concerns to an insignificant amount of export, around half million USD. There is demand but the supply does not fulfill the demand fully, he mentioned adding that import of highly qualified work force may become another prospective area.

Armenian workers are experienced and smart. There is a deficit of such employees in the Czech Republic; the Ambassador stated emphasizing that energy is another prospective field of cooperation. "The projects are expensive and need large financial investments. Of course, commercial financing is good but it is expensive that is why the cooperation is implemented via export bank a governmental structure, which offers lower interest rates and longer maturity", the Ambassador summarized.