Opposition MP: Akhuryan sugar factory is nothing but "window dressing" to conceal monopoly on sugar import

ArmInfo. The Akhuryan sugar factory is nothing but "window dressing" to conceal monopoly on sugar import, Nikol Pashinyan, a member of the opposition faction of the Armenian National Congress in the parliament, said on March 16.

Recalling that the plant belongs to MP representing the Republican Party of Armenia Samvel Alexanyan, Pashinyan said Alexanyan, in fact, imports sugar, not raw materials for production of sugar, and underpays tens of millions of dollars to the state budget. According to Pashinyan, yet in 2010, the president of Armenia announced the launch of the sugar factory construction saying it will help restoring sugar production and boosting the production of sugar-beet. Earlier in 2008, the Government approved a concept of sugar-beet production development. 

Pashinyan went on saying that in response to his request for the number of the factory's employees and the taxes paid to the state budget, Deputy Minister of Finance Armen Alaverdyan said the factory is not a legal entity and these data are not available. Alaverdyan just said that the multi-profile company Alex Grig belonging to Samvel Alexanyan employs 3,000 people. Meantime, Pashinyan said, production of sugar is a very expensive process, requiring electricity and gas (37% of cost), while 1 kg of sugar is sold in the country for 380 drams.