Wednesday, September 20 2017 13:34

ArmInfo. Minister of  Agriculture of Armenia Ignaty Arakelyan received the French  Ambassador to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier on September 20 in  connection with the completion of the diplomatic mission in our  country. 

According to the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture of  Armenia, Arakelyan thanked the French ambassador for effective and  active work, noting that over the years of his activity the  Armenian-French relations in the agro-sphere were deepened and  expanded.

During the meeting, the programs implemented in Armenia with the  support of the French side were discussed. Speaking about the new  state programs of assistance in the sphere of agriculture, the head  of the Ministry of Agriculture stressed that for their successful  implementation, the consulting assistance of experienced specialists  is necessary. The importance of forming close cooperation between the  state and the private sector in the process of implementing  state-level programs in the sphere was stressed bilaterally. 

The interlocutors also touched upon the issues related to Armenia's  participation in the wine conference in November this year, as well  as the related visit of French experts to Armenia.  Noting that  thanks to the active cooperation of Armenia and France it is possible  to achieve new successes, the French diplomat assured that the new  Ambassador of the French Republic in the Republic of Armenia will  continue to develop close cooperation in the agricultural sector.  

The Armenian Minister of Agriculture also held a working breakfast  with a group of businessmen from France who arrived in Armenia within  the framework of the Armenian-French forum. The parties discussed a  number of issues of mutual interest. In particular, the prospects of  cooperation in the fields of winemaking and organic agriculture were  discussed. The interlocutors also touched upon the prospects for  cooperation in the light of the expected signing of a new association  agreement with the EU. French entrepreneurs expressed their surprise  at the increase in the number of producers of quality wine over the  past 10 years.

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the mutual  trade turnover between Armenia and France for January-July of 2017  amounted to $ 37.3 million with an annual decline of 30.2%. In  particular, exports fell by 1.1% to $ 1.9, while imports grew by  32.5% to 35.3 million