Armenia and France improve economic cooperation

ArmInfo. Suren Karayan, the Minister of Economic Development and Investments and Jean-Marc Ayrault,  the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France yesterday signed in Paris the Memorandum on Cooperation Improvement and Development in the sector of tourism. Minister Karayan presented the French partners also the investment  resources of Armenia.

According to the information of the press office of the Ministry of Economy, the  Memorandum particularly  assumes the experience exchange in the sectors of mutual interest, the arrangements regarding the tourists and their safety, mutual stimulation of tourists flows through media and appropriate operators involvement.  The thematic cooperation is also planned, particularly in the spheres of cuisine, culture, eco- and mountain tourism, special education etc.

Within the framework of his visit Suren Karayan had also personal meetings with more than ten entrepreneurs in the sectors of IT, Agriculture, logistics etc. Agreements on cooperation  were reached with Airbus Group, Oberthur Technologies, Artelia ,Bureau Veritas, Inotech International, Farmex Technoligies, MDP Consulting, Sodiaal Web.ISI, Jamaris etc.

At the came time,  the House of Armenia will  be established in Paris,  and the House of France -  in Yerevan. To mention, according to the National Statistics Service , the foreign turnover between Armenia and France in 2016 formed USD 56,9 mln with an annual decrease of 19,3 %. The export formed at that USD 3,8 mln with a dropdown of 28,4%, and import made USD 53,1 mln with 18,6 drop down.

To remind, the tourism sector in  Armenia finished the year of 2016 with 5,7% growth. That was stated  by Zarmine Zeytuntsyan, the Head of Armenian State Committee on  tourism un der the Ministry of Economy and Investments, mentioning  that during the year of 2016 Armenia welcomed 2.867 mln foreign  nationals, 1.259 from which were tourists. According to her, the   greatest role in the  tourism growth is up to nationals of  Russia,Iran, Arabian Emirates, China and others. At that Zejtuntsyan  stated that the number of Iranian tourists in 2016 grew for 30%, and  Russian - for 2,3%,versus the 6% drop down a year before.  Comparing  the figures of Armenia and Georgian tourism sectors, Zejtuntssyan  mentioned that despite the assets allocated from the budget for the  tourism development (USD 400 thousand against USD 8 mln allocated in  Georgia in 2016), from all the  persons visited Georgia (6,6 mln),  the tourist share formed just 2,8 mln or 42,4%, while in Armenia  this indicator is equal to 43,9%. In this respect Zejtuntsyan mentioned: " The results are not deriving much in per cent  expression. And if we look at this issue from another point of view,  than USD 8 mln is too big figure for tourism development"