ArmInfo. With the expert assistance of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a draft law on public-private partnership has been developed. In March the project will be submitted for discussion. This was stated by Minister of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia Suren Karayan during the working meeting with President Serzh Sargsyan.
The Minister reported to the President about the works and their results implemented in the direction of the implementation of his instructions, on the problems fixed in the sphere of reforms and the still existing problems, as well as on the main lines of work planned for 2018.
According to the press service of Armenian President, the minister said that for the year 2017 the export of Armenian products grew by 25.2%. In order to ensure a simplified exit of Armenian producers to foreign markets and in accordance with the instructions of the RA President, measures were taken to increase the availability of information on target markets, including by launching an online sales system. According to the results of the past year, the growth of industrial products amounted to 12.6%, the role of the main violin was played by the manufacturing industry with 15.7% growth.
In addition, negotiations on the conclusion of an agreement between Iran and China are coming to an end. Negotiations are conducted with Serbia, Israel, India, Egypt and Singapore. The head of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade noted the importance of the introduction of the electronic system for the self-declaration of exporters (Registered Exporter System - REX) operating under the preferential trade regime with the EU GSP +. In the registered system at the beginning of the year the process of registration of domestic exporters was already started.
Over the past year, Armenia has also recorded achievements in the field of tourism: the number of tourists who visited Armenia in 2017, compared with 2016, increased by 18.7%. In this case, the Minister noted the important role of marketing. Regarding reforms in the context of improving the business environment, Suren Karayan noted that in 2018 special attention will be paid to simplifying procedures in the sphere of granting construction permits, improving tax and customs administration, a mechanism for protecting the interests of small shareholders, as well as work in the field of bankruptcy and contractual relations . To protect the interests of a foreign investor, a bill has been drafted that has already been approved by the government and sent to the National Assembly in due course. The Head of the Ministry of Economic Development of Armenia reminded that on December 15, 2017 the official launch of FEZ Meghri was given. According to the approved project, the construction of a free economic zone is planned to be completed in 2 stages. At the first stage, the minimum necessary conditions for its work and organization of work with companies interested in the activities of FEZ on the ground were created. At the second stage, expansion of the territory is planned. The work is planned to be completed during the current year.