Monday, October 22 2018 12:27

ArmInfo. Armenia attaches great importance to the holding of the Eurasian Week Forum in Yerevan. The Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this at the  opening ceremony of the forum.

According to him, at present a profound transformation of the  political and economic system is taking place in Armenia, a current  economic and political agenda is being formed, which is largely  determined by the integration potential of the EEU. "In this context,  I believe that the forum is a good platform for summarizing the  interim results of the integration process, especially on the eve of  Armenia's chairmanship in the Union," the Acting Prime Minister  explained. He stressed that discussions have already begun on issues  that Armenia intends to offer as priorities during its chairmanship  in the EEU. In addition, according to the head of the Government, at  today's forum there will be an opportunity to discuss the obstacles  that still concern the Eurasian Economic Union member countries that  still exist on the Eurasian market and to develop effective measures  to eliminate them.

The Acting Prime Minister also expressed confidence that the Eurasian  Week would be the platform on which contracts would be concluded,  possible joint projects discussed and new business contacts  established. "It is gratifying that more than 300 Armenian  enterprises that are ready for long-term cooperation with Eurasian  partners, attracting investments and building partnership cooperation  today take part in the forum," Nikol Pashinyan said, adding that the  presence of these entrepreneurs proves the high interest in the forum  and the importance of making concrete decisions on the sidelines of  the forum. 

Nikol Pashinyan noted that the significance of the EEU for Armenia is  evidenced by the fact that the trade turnover between the republic  and the EEU countries increased by 31.3% in January- July 2018,  reaching $ 351.9 million. "Armenia demonstrates stable growth rates  of trade and cooperation with the countries of the EEU. The growth of  commodity turnover testifies only to the development of trade  cooperation within the framework of the EEU, but also to the activity  of Armenia in it, " Pashinyan said. He also drew attention to several  key issues that will be subjects of thorough discussion. "The first  is that this year the members of the EEU and Iran signed a temporary  agreement as the first step towards the formation of a free trade  zone," Pashinyan said, adding that Armenia is the only EEU country  with a common border with Iran.  This border, as well as the Meghri  free economic zone, on the Armenian-Iranian border, create an  additional incentive for the development of trade and economic ties.  In his opinion, it is important that the Union continue negotiations  on the observance of free trade agreements with those countries which  seek for cooperation. "In this context, we are ready to actively  engage in negotiations with Egypt," Pashinyan said. The third,  according to him, what should be paid attention to is the development  of high-technology industries. This is important both in terms of  improving the level of national security and economic development.  "There is a serious potential in Armenia and about 400 enterprises  work in this area. We are focused on developing cooperation with our  partners in the EEU for joint access to foreign markets," the Acting  PM of Armenia stated. According to Pashinyan, the full implementation  of the EEU customs code will play an important role in the creation  of modern customs regulation.

To note, the third International "Eurasian Week" Forum began its work  in the capital of Armenia today.  The largest Summit in the territory  of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) of representatives of  government, regulatory bodies and business will last until October  24. The focus of the Eurasian Week 2018 is the creation of a  favorable business climate in the territory of the Union countries,  the strengthening of production ties, the development of export  potential, and the creation of attractive conditions for foreign  investors. Among the event's partners are the Ministry of Industry  and Trade of the Russian Federation, Rostec, the Center for the  Development of Promising Technologies, the Eurasian Partnership  Forum, etc..  About 2000 participants and over 150 speakers,  including deputy prime ministers and government ministers, heads of  state corporations and business representatives of the EEU member  states, confirmed their participation in the forum. Participants have  been represented from Russia, Armenia, Afghanistan, Belarus, Hungary,  Germany, Georgia, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan,  China, Lithuania, Moldova, Nigeria, the Netherlands, the United Arab  Emirates, the United Kingdom, the USA, Tajikistan, Taiwan,  Uzbekistan, Switzerland, Qatar, France, Argentina, Spain, Ukraine.   The program includes over 30 discussion events. The three-day forum  opened with the plenary session "The real economy of the EEU:  capacity building in the context of integration," in which under the  leadership of Armenia, deputy prime ministers and ministers of the  Union countries take part. Among other global topics are  "Technological breakthrough and potential opportunities of the EEU  countries", "Foreign economic activity of the EEU as a source of  economic growth and a factor of sustainability in business  development", "Using the integration potential of the EEU for the  development of building materials industry". There will also be round  tables on the topics: "Improving the provisions of the Treaty on the  EEU in the field of technical regulation", "Digital traceability in  the EEU: development prospects." In addition, within the framework of  the forum, the final of the competition of innovative projects  "Eurasian digital platforms" will be held.  For the first time, an  exhibition was organized within the framework of the Forum, which  represented export-oriented companies of the Union from various  sectors of the economy.  The total area of the exhibition is more  than 4 thousand square meters. The industrial and cooperation  potential of the EEU will be represented by over 100 companies in six  key sectors: pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, agriculture, the  jewelry industry, light industry, the production of innovative  building materials, and technologies for industry (including IT).