Economist: Opening FEZ "Meghri" is another step in the direction of the EAEU - Iran cooperation

ArmInfo. The opening of the  Meghri Free Economic Zone is the next step towards the rapprochement  of the EAEU with Iran. Such an opinion was expressed by the head of  the Analytical Center "Alternative", economist Tatul Manaseryan,  during the expert discussion held in Yerevan, timed to the two-year  anniversary of Armenia's accession to the EAEU.

December 15 it is planned to open 100% of the state free economic  zone "Meghri". The opening of this FEZ will mark the completion of  one of the two outlined stages. We are talking about a small area,  located on 2 hectares, adjacent to the Meghri checkpoint, with the  provision of the main territories. FEZ "Meghri" in this, the first  stage has the infrastructure necessary for its operation.

"In this light, today Tehran expresses serious interest in  establishing cooperation with the EAEU states. In my opinion, the  implementation of these plans will at least increase the domestic 170  millionth market of the EAEU by another 80 million people, while one  of the countries of the Unified Energy System "Armenia already has  quite specific economic relations with neighboring Iran and today's  opening of the Free Economic Zone Meghri is another confirmation of  this," the economist stressed.

According to Manaseryan, establishing trade and economic relations  between Armenia and Iran, in close connection with the EAEU, opens up  wide opportunities for realizing the national-competitive advantages  of all participants of this bundle.

"In this light, I appreciate the recently signed agreement between  Armenia and the EU as a possibility of becoming Armenia as a bridge,  and in no way an obstacle between the relations of these two  integration structures," Manaseryan summed up.