ArmInfo. The free economic zone "Meghri" on the border with Iran is a good platform for Russian capital and Russian business interested in the Iranian market. The Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan at a joint briefing stated this with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on October 24 in Yerevan. According to the Armenian Prime Minister, Armenia is open not only in terms of placing Russian capital on the territory of the FEZ, but joint investment cooperation.
"I think that in the near future, those negotiations that are going on quite intensively will already have a final, ready for its application," said Dmitry Medvedev, in turn, confirmed his willingness to cooperate in the Meghri FEZ. "We have a good relationship with Iran, whether someone likes it or not. Therefore, if our friends and partners in the EAEU create such a zone with Iran, we are ready to participate in its development, including by inviting Russian business there," Medvedev said. As the head of the RF Cabinet of Ministers noted, Armenian colleagues suggested other forms of co-investment. "We will consider how to close this up, maybe with the use of Russian development institutions such as the Direct Investment Fund, Vnesheconombank and RosexportCenter. The main thing is that it should bear fruit," he concluded, in general, as Karen Karapetyan noted, the allied relations between Armenia and Russia are dynamically growing from year to year." We are satisfied with the work done - the negotiations were as always very constructive, rich and friendly According to the Prime Minister, during the meeting with Dmitry Medvedev in a tete-a-tete format, the possibilities of implementing investment and other projects aimed at deepening cooperation were discussed. "The signed documents will unequivocally help to further development and strengthening of bilateral cooperation, "the head of the Armenian government emphasized.
Within the framework of the official visit of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev to the Republic of Armenia, a number of documents have been signed today in the Government of Armenia concerning cooperation in the areas of communications and communications, emergencies, and between the regions of the two countries: the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Russian Federation on international road transport, Memorandum between the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technologies of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of Agriculture the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia and the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Russian Federation) signed an Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation on the reduction of tariffs for international telecommunication services in international roaming between Armenia and the Russian Federation in the field of industrial safety regulation, as well as a protocol of intent between the Administration of Gegharkunik Marz of the Republic of Armenia and the Saratov Region Government of the Russian Federation signed by the Governor of Gegharkunik Karen Botoyan and Governor of the Saratov region Valeriy Radaev.
According to the data of the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments, the Free Economic Zone "Meghri" on the border with Iran will be launched at the end of November 2017. "Work on the construction of FEZ "Meghri" has already started, at the end of November we will try to launch it," said the head of the department Suren Karayan. The total cost of building FEZ in Meghri is estimated at $ 32 million, of which $ 28 million is capital expenditure. According to the Ministry of Economy, operation of the FEZ will create 2,500 jobs and increase exports from Armenia by 30%. The main goal of the FEZ is the development of trade and economic relations with Iran and other countries of the region, the development of the Syunik region, as well as the positioning of Armenia as a link linking Iran with the EAEU countries and Georgia. It is assumed that 100-120 companies will operate there, whose revenues will reach $ 52 million over 10 years. The products are planned to be exported to Iran, the countries of the EAEU, the Middle East, Turkmenistan and others. The total investment of all companies for 10 years is planned to increase to $ 350-400 million. The functioning of the FEZ has already been legislated in the Customs Code of the EAEU. In total, seven such zones will operate in the system of the duty-free system.