ArmInfo. The Japanese market is interested in Armenian agricultural products, and we are also interested in Armenian culture and history. Ambassador of Japan to Armenia Fukushima Masanori stated during a meeting with Minister of Economy of Armenia Vahan Kerobyan.
According to the press service of the department, the parties discussed issues related to trade and economic relations between the countries, attaching importance to the development and strengthening of ties. In addition, the interlocutors discussed the upcoming visit of the Minister of Economy to Japan, as well as Armenia's participation in the EXPO 2023 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
It is reported that during the meeting, the head of the Ministry of Economy presented the guest with a project for the construction of a "Dry Port" in the Shirak region.
It should be noted that a "Dry Port" or an industrial park with a special economic zone is planned to be built on the territory adjacent to the Shirak airport, which will border both the airport and the railway and the North-South highway. The Dry Port is envisaged as a multifunctional and multimodal hub to serve those local and international companies that require an operational procedure to consolidate customs processes, which can help reduce the latter's operating costs. The Minister of Economy stated that, according to the intended goals, the Dry Port industrial park being established in Gyumri will provide 3% of Armenia's GDP.
According to him, the final stage of the feasibility study of the project is currently underway. According to statistical data, foreign trade turnover between Armenia and Japan in Jan-Sept 2023 increased 3.8-fold, amounting to $297.4 million. At the same time, exports increased by 1.1% to $2.2 million, against the backdrop of a 2.9-fold increase in imports to $295.2 million.
