ArmInfo. Armenia is a gate for entering Eurasian market, which has 170 mln consumers, Executive Director of the Czech Republic's Chamber of Trade and Industry for the CIS countries Frantishek Masopust told journalists during Armenian-Czech Business Forum in Yerevan.
According to him Armenian market like the Czech one is rather small. In this context he noted that the possibility for joint enter other larger markets of the third countries is being discussed. Masopust pointed at Armenia's established relations with such a country as Iran. He stated about the possibility for cooperation in the fields of energy, infrastructure development, transport, reconstruction of roads and supply of materials and component parts for railway transport as well as for passenger planes.
Deputy Economy Minister of Armenia Garegin Melkonyan informed that within Czech President's visit to Armenia 26 Czech businessmen have also arrived in the country. Melkonyan mentioned activation of cooperation between business cycles of Armenia and the Czech Republic and raise of interest in implementation of joint projects. According to him within the intergovernmental commission of the two countries there are agreements on establishment of trading houses of the two countries, implementation of several joint industrial programs as well as programs in the field of metrology and standardization. "At year-end 2015 trade turnover between the two countries has totaled nearly 22 mln USD, however we believe there are opportunities for growth", Melkonyan stated, stressing that a work should be done to raise awareness among the business environments of the two countries.
Executive Director of Armenian Development Fund Karen Mkrtchyan in his turn informed that on the current stage the Czech side is interested in cooperation in the fields of pharmaceuticals, food industry, production of optic and laser equipment and in energy particularly, nuclear power. The Director stated that the Armenian side has already made a proposal on establishment of joint enterprises in these fields. "The results will be known in September when the Czech businessmen visit Armenia within "Made in Armenia" expo", he noted.
To note, within Czech President Milos Zeman's visit a large delegation of Czech businessmen has arrived in Armenia. Around 100 Armenian and Czech businessmen discussed prospects of cooperation on June 8. Trade turnover between Armenia and the Czech Republic totaled 21.6 mln USD in 2015 with 0.6% y-o-y growth. Export totaled 1.7 mln USD with 2.5% y-o-y growth and import 19.9 mln USD with 0.6% y-o-y growth.
The main imported goods are confectionary, beer, food products, medicine and medical equipment, textile, paper. The main exported goods are molybdenum concentrate, ferromolybdenum, ceramics, wooden crafts, handmade carpets, furniture parts etc.