Intergovernmental Council on Agro-Industrial Complex of CIS considered proposals on development of interstate cooperation and specialization in agrarian sphere

ArmInfo. The Armenian Agriculture Minister Ignatiy Araqelyan on September 21 in Minsk took part in the Intergovernmental Council session on agriculture industry complex issues of CIS.

According to Armenian Agriculture Ministry press service, Ignatiy Araqelyan submitted the work done and the results in the agrosphere.

During the Council meeting, the members summed up preliminary results of the agro industrial complexes of CIS countries in 2017, considered suggestions on development of interstate collaborations and and specialization in the agrarian sphere and the creation on their basis of a common agrarian market in accordance with the Action Plan for the implementation of the third stage of the Strategy for the Economic Development of the CIS for the period to 2020.

Much attention was paid during the meeting to the topic of combating the degradation of agricultural lands in the member states of the Commonwealth.

In addition, the meeting of the Intergovernmental Council examined the development of the sugar market and the prospects for the development of the seed market within the domestic selection of varieties and hybrids of sugar beet, the grain market, and the market of meat and dairy products.

The participants also discussed the reduction of agrological restrictions among the CIS countries, cooperation in the field of land reclamation, and considered a number of other issues within their competence.

To note, in Armenia, economic activity in January-August 2017 increased by 5.5% per annum on the back of a 21.7% increase in exports. At the same time, the agricultural sector and the sphere of construction were delayed in a downward trend.  - respectively, 9.4% and 8% per annum. In the annual context (August 2017 to August 2016), the largest growth was recorded in the services sector - by 15.5%, the trade sector - by 12.4%, industry - by 10.9%, and the decline in the energy complex - 0.9% the agricultural sector - 25% and the construction sector - 5.1%.