ArmInfo.The reformed toolkit of state aid to winegrowers in Armenia is primarily aimed at smooth procurement of grapes.
Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia Arman Khojoyan stated this yesterday during a meeting with winegrowers of Armavir region of the republic. According to the press service of the Ministry of Economy, Deputy Minister Tigran Gabrielyan also took part in the meeting, which was devoted to the discussion of state support instruments before the procurement period. As the source notes, at the beginning of the meeting, Arman Khojoyan said that recently, meetings with representatives of processing companies have been regularly held, during which directions of assistance are discussed. As a result of these discussions, at a recent government meeting, the 24th program of anti-crisis measures was adopted with the introduction of changes in the toolkit for state support of winegrowers.
Vineyards, in turn, presented problems arising in the procurement, some of which were associated with the procurement prices for grapes. Answering the questions raised, the deputy minister noted that the state cannot interfere in the pricing issue, but the easing of the financial burden for processors, as well as the stimulation of the sale of processed products, creates additional demand for grapes. Arman Khojoyan and Tigran Gabrielyan expressed their readiness to discuss and study in detail each proposal in order to jointly search the problem solution. The participants in the meeting agreed to organize courses at the end of the procurement period, during which experienced specialists will present the latest cultivation and processing technologies to winegrowers grapes, the benefits of their implementation and use.
It should be reminded that at the meeting of the RA government on August 13 the 24th program of anti- crisis measures was approved, according to which the Armenian enterprises engaged in the production of wine and brandy will receive state assistance. As the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Khachatryan noted then, the coronavirus had a significant negative impact on the production indicators of winemakers. The demand for products dropped significantly, and the volume of exports also decreased, which, in turn, led to a decrease in production volumes. According to preliminary data, the decline in the sector was about 30%, and even more at some enterprises. As a result, grape procurement companies faced serious financial difficulties and a shortage of working capital. In these conditions, according to the minister, the country's commercial banks began to show caution, reluctantly lending to these enterprises. Meanwhile, as Tigran Khachatryan noted, a significant grape harvest is expected this year, which will surpass the indicators of previous years. At the same time, companies need financial resources to re-equip production facilities and purchase new containers. For this reason, it is proposed to improve the terms of lending to companies that procure grapes. In particular, the state will fully finance the interest rates on attracted loans. the loan repayment period is extended from 18 months to 24 months. At the same time, the maximum loan amount per beneficiary is increased from 1.8 billion drams to 3 billion drams. The grace period for payments from 2.3 months is extended to 3-6 months. Also, payments under the excise tax line in the amount of 100 AMD for 1 liter of cognac alcohol and brandy are subject to refund. For loans attracted in 2019, their maturity dates are also extended from September-October 2020 to December of the same year. In order to modernize production facilities and purchase containers, the maximum loan size from 450 million drams will increase to 1 billion drams.
