ArmInfo. Armenia will elaborate a strategy of export of food and agricultural products to Iran. Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan voiced the relevant instruction at the Government's session on November 18.
Karapetyan instructed the minister of economic development and investments to prepare proposals on creation of a working group with the ministries of foreign affairs, healthcare, and agriculture within 5 days, and then to negotiate with the Iranian side to ensure all necessary solutions and creation of institutional structures to facilitate the entry of Armenian products to the Iranian market. The head of the working group is to present the progress report before December 25.
He noted that the share of Armenian products on the Iranian market is tiny. The market itself dictates the requirements and criteria for the participants, he added. "I think in case of efficient work we will be able to have a large share on that market," he stressed. Karapetyan also instructed the structures concerned to discuss with businessmen possible opening of a free economic area near the Iranian border.
Earlier, ex-Prime Minister of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan stated that creating FEZ in Meghri was a very important program, which would open up new opportunities for development of our economy. At the same time, he noted that the program was vital from the point of regional development as well. "Development of provinces is one of our priorities, and a new free economic zone will boost development of Meghri. New job places will open, new prospects will appear", Abrahamyan noted. According to him, due to the program Iran will receive an opportunity to open joint ventures with the Eurasian Economic Union member states in the FEZ of Meghri and to enjoy duty-free export of products to the EEU.
