ArmInfo. Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan at a meeting in Armenian Government met with representatives of enterprises engaged in the production of wine and cognac. According to the press service of the Armenian government, during the meeting, the participants discussed a number of issues related to the prospects for the development of the industry, in particular, the process of harvesting grapes, increasing vineyards, stimulating winemaking and cognac production, further increasing export volumes, and improving the legislative field.
Karen Karapetyan stressed that the Government has raised the level of agricultural loans to 3-10 million drams under the state subsidy program, interest rates for beneficiaries of border communities receiving social assistance are set at 3%, and for the remaining 5%. The harvesters, as he further explained, can get a loan of up to 150 million drams at an interest rate of 3% per annum. For processing enterprises, gas tariffs have been reduced by 40%. "I do not know the government of any other country that provides such financial assistance or other support to agriculture. We are implementing this program because we are confident of the great future of the agricultural sector. Today we expect that you will apply the same business approach, because in reality we believe that for the development of your business we take steps exceeding our capabilities, "the prime minister said.
From his part, Armenian Agriculture Minister Ignatiy Araqelyan stressed that in the previous year, 110 thousand tons of grapes were harvested, and this year the harvested grapes are expected to amount to 141 thousand tons. At the same time, he stressed that, according to the monitoring carried out by specialists, the harvest of grapes this year will be 10% less due to the failure to cover the vineyards for the winter and the cold winter. At the same time, he noted that over the first half of the year Armenia increased export of cognac by 30%. In particular, the minister called upon the representatives of the procurement enterprises to streamline the production process and conclude contracts with the farms before the procurements start.
According to Armenian Customs service data, in Q1 2017 Armenia exported 228.2 tons of grapes, with an annual decline of 58.4%, with decrease in customs value by 60.5% to $ 142.5 thousand. At that 80% exports to the Iranian market, slightly less supplied in South Africa, Peru, Russia, India, USA, etc.