Yerevan plans to increase commodity turnover with Iran up to $1bln

ArmInfo. Prime-Minister of  Armenia, first deputy chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia  Karen Karapetyan is sure that commodity turnover  with Iran could  be  reached at  $1bln, as he stated  during the meeting with voters  within the framework of pre electoral campaign.

According to the Governement Head , there are plans to actualize  investment  projects at total cost  of $55mln in Syunik. The talks  are in progress  over the rerunning of Kapan airport.  "Speaking the   language of nation, we took good start, and if you do not stop it,  we will move forward with the same speed. I am sure, we will create   a space in Syunik, where all the problems will be led to zero for the  producer. But we have to use also that Syunik is the nearest neighbor  of Iran," the Prime-Minister stated.

As the Head of the Executive Branch of the country stated, currently  final talks are being done on creating free economic zone. "I think  we will announce of FEZ (free economic zone),"he said. According to  him, Armenian side has already suggested the partners from Russia,  Georgia, Kazakhstan and Belarus to use  the space of Meghry for  allocation of  their funds to come to Iran. Karen Karapetyan also  noted that from Iran side the talks are being done on creating a  special company ,within free economic zone, of wide-scale export. "  For today the commodity turnover   with Iran is low, and forms $50-15  mln except  energy sphere.  In this field we have an opportunity to  register phenomenal growth- and the idea that we are able to lead the  index to 1bln is not high-flown," Karen Karapetyan noted.

According to data of National State Service of Armenia, foreign trade  turnover between Armenia and Iran amounted 238.3$mln Jan-Dec 2016  with the annual reduction of 14.7% especially, export-74.8$mln with  annual reduction of 8.4%, and import-164.1$mln with annual reduction  of 17.3%. A year earlier, in 2015 the temps of reduction of these  indexes were less inspiring, foreign trade turnover between Armenia  and Iran reduced to 5.2%, with the export reduction of 8.2%. and  import of 3.9%.