ArmInfo.By 2030, the volume of production of jewelry and faceted products in Armenia can reach $ 1 billion. Gagik Mkrtchyan, advisor to the Minister of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia, informed ArmInfo.
According to him, a program for the development of the sphere has been developed and is being applied. To date, the adviser to the minister continued, the main task is to bring production volumes to 2003 levels to $ 300- $ 400 million per year by 2022. "I am sure that by 2030 we will be able to reach this index," Gagik Mkrtchyan said, pointing out the importance of excluding previous mistakes. The advisor to the minister stressed that the task is to ensure at least 1% growth of the sphere annually, which is a very good indicator. In order to achieve this goal, negotiations are being conducted with suppliers of raw materials and expanding the geography of exports of finished products.
Gagik Mkrtchyan reminded that in 2003 in Armenia 43 companies engaged in diamond cutting actively worked and 12-13 companies in the production of jewelry products. Today, this figure is equal to 3-4 companies in the sphere of cutting and 7-8 - in the sphere of jewelry production. Many companies are in a "dormant state", but in the case of projects in the space of the Eurasian Economic Union, these companies will undoubtedly "wake up".
At present, raw materials for lapidary and jewelry production are supplied from Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium and Canada. And, from September 1, 2016, the Russian Federation stopped supplying rough diamonds with a 6.5% customs discount. Prior to this, the adviser to the minister continued, from 2013 the Russian Federation supplied diamonds with tax benefits within the framework of the program on Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union. "At the beginning of the year we started a new round of negotiations with the Alrosa company, but I will refrain from reporting anything about them, as the talks continue," Gagik Mkrtchyan stressed.
Nevertheless, according to him, this factor will not play a significant role in the production of competitive products. Another thing is the exclusion of various obstacles within the framework of the EAEU, including marking and sealing of jewelry products industry. And if the issue with the samples is practically solved, then the issue with the labeling of products is postponed for a long time, since it requires more than serious investments to purchase modern equipment and solve legal issues. "The Russian Federation insists on labeling products, and this would be an ideal option, since it indicates not only the country producing the raw materials, but also the manufacturer of the products. However, it is practically impossible to do this technically in the near future, since serious investments in technical equipment are required, which is expensive Therefore, at this stage, it was decided to postpone the issue of marking and stop at the mutual recognition of the EAEU countries by the agreement on this issue will be adopted in October this year, after which the document will have to pass interstate ratification procedures, "the adviser to the minister noted.
Earlier Gagik Mkrtchyan informed that in 2017 the jewelry and faceted sphere for the first time after 2008 came out on the figures with a three-digit figure. In particular, last year the volume of production amounted to $ 102 million, of which $ 82 million fell to the share of processing diamonds. He noted that the sale of products is carried out in international markets in Belgium, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. According to the National Statistical Committee of Armenia, the production of jewelry in Armenia in 2017 was 49.6 billion drams ($ 103.3 million with growth of 35.7%). In 2017, 1,929.2 kg of gold products were produced (2.5 times growth) and diamonds by 204,102 carats (an increase of 62.7%). Export of precious and semiprecious stones, precious metals, products from them in 2017 amounted to $ 289.5 million (decline by 14.1%), and imports amounted to $ 237.6 million (an increase of $ 47.1).
