RA State Committee on Protection of Economic Competitiveness: Armenia has improved its Global Competitiveness ranking by 28 notches

ArmInfo. Armenia has improved its ranking by 28 notches according to the results of Global Competitiveness report and is currently the 51st among 138 countries, which is higher than ranking of a number of CIS countries and countries of Eastern Europe, Head of Methodology and Planning Department of the RA State Committee on Protection of Economic Competitiveness Arman Manaseryan stated at today's meeting of the Committee's representatives with representatives of European business associations and trade industrial chambers.

"According to the results of our research on import of meat and dairy products, infant food, sunflower oil, butter, margarine, rice, chocolate, coffee and a number of other products we can state that the competitive environment has improved and growth of the number of businessmen in various sectors of economy testifies to this", he informed noting that the level of centralization has been reduced. Thus, according to him the share of involvement of big entrepreneurs in import of butter totaled 91% in 2011, while by 2015 it dropped to 76%. The similar situation has been registered in margarine market (to 33% from 55%), sunflower oil (to 49% from 74%), infant food (to 29% from 53%), meat and dairy products (to 62% from 73%), rice (to 45% from 58%), coffee (to 47% from 63%), freeze dried coffee (to 63% from 83%) and chocolate (to 46% from 57%).

According to him positive trends have been registered in ranking of conducting efficient anti-monopoly policy, in which Armenia ranks 77th raising by 11 notches and advancing Russia (82nd), Kazakhstan (83rd), Slovakia (86th), Romania (101st), Georgia (114th), Moldavia (134th), Ukraine (136th) and other countries.

Head of the State Committee on Protection of Economic Competitiveness Artak Shaboyan in turn informed about amendments in legislation on protection of economic competitiveness. According to him, the law bans involvement of representatives of state authorities in such a business activity that hinders ensuring favorable competitive environment in Armenia. At the same time according to Shaboyan special attention in this issue should be paid to processes of state procurements and steps should be taken to ensure transparency of procedures.

Head of EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski for his part expressed optimistic opinion related to government's activities aimed at improving business climate and ensuring equal conditions for all the economic entities. According to Switalski competitive environment will contribute to attracting foreign capital to Armenian market. In this light the Ambassador noted that as a result of numerous negotiations with European business representatives the Armenian government should focus on the issue related to state assistance, which is an important component for foreign investors. The Ambassador expressed hope that in this issue Armenia will follow EU's model.

In a talk with ArmInfo's correspondent the Head of EU Delegation to Armenia Piotr Switalski mentioned positive changes demonstrated by the government in recent years in all indicators, referring to the results of international rankings. Armenia has made a serious progress. However, there is a lot of work to be done, he stated. At the same time the Ambassador expressed readiness to assist Armenia and conduct activities aimed at improvement of conditions for business and attracting foreign investments.