K. Karapetyan: I do not know any other country where agriculture sector is so much supported

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.