Services sector needs to be considered in context of Armenia’s EEU membership – Ara Nranyan
The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) is an institute within which the member-states are seeking to form common markets in different areas, Minister and Board member of the Eurasian Economic Commission Ara Nranyan told Tert.am.
Mr Nranyan, you have said that the EEU being a full-fledged structure should not be called into question. What should be discussed is Armenia’s benefits from EEU membership. Summing up the period this issue has been discussed for, what results have we achieved?
Any integration process has its beginning, without, however, having an end. And liberalization, formation of common markets and mutual recognition of documents are phased processes. The first stage is formation of a common market in terms of migration. The second stage is flow of products, services and capital. That is, the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) is an institute within which the member-states are seeking to form common markets in different areas. We should not set a date to say we must have everything by that date.
Has Armenia been able to get the best by now?
We have been able to get some advantages. Russia is practicing the raw materials export duty. No country can export grain, oil products or timber from Russia without paying this duty. After acceding to the EEU, Armenia is purchasing raw materials without paying export duty. We have a number of plants that exported grain, timber and fuel at reasonable prices. That is, those with practical way of thinking are capable of finding the right ways. Of course, rouble depreciation has affected our exports. On the other hand, however, it allowed the purchase of raw materials at reasonable prices. Economy is a two-way road and it should not always be viewed in terms of only export or import. It is necessary to see economic needs of the moment. Works needs to be organized to meet the needs of specific economic situations.
Concerning the economic situation in Russia, when sanctions were imposed on Russia, Armenia’s authorities stated that Armenia could make use of that by increasing exports. However, although indirectly, Armenia was affected as well. In this context, how can the problems facing Russia affect our getting benefits from EEU membership?
The economic situation in Russia affected foreign trade not only with Armenia, but also with Belarus, Kazakhstan and the European Union. For example, they have a decline of billions of dollars in their trade with Germany and Italy. That is, when we study this situation we see that the declining indices in other countries do not at all better Armenia’s indices. I think that Russia has reached the point when it has to start experiencing economic upturn. And progress can be seen even now, and I think it will last longer. Economy normally rapidly declines, but requires very much time to recover.
Are not our expectations about EEU membership neutralized? Is there a need for revising them in certain respects? Could we suffer losses instead of getting benefits?
There is economic reality in which you have to work. It should not disappoint you especially since we know that it is nothing to do with integration. Even if we were not an EEU member-state, we would have the same problems. Our cognac exporters faced problems as far back as last December.
With respect to economic growth in Armenia, some forecast zero economic growth in the country. However, Armenia’s government remains optimistic. How can Armenia’s EEU membership influence economic growth in the country, given the current situation in the EEU?
Any integration process has a positive effect because we can purchase cheaper raw materials and easier export our products. We should consider not only products, but also services, which appear to be more passive in Armenia. I am sure that the EEU will afford us opportunities our economy really needs. Regrettably, no other integration union is willing to accept Armenia’s government certificates. As an EEU member Armenia has this advantage, which it had not before. And not all states succeed in entering markets and getting such an advantage.
With respect to advantages, many economists note that our economic laws are more liberal than those of the other EEU member-states. Do not you see any threat that the advantages, instead of setting an example to the other member-states, will make us worsen our own laws?
We have adopted a clear policy as an EEU member-state. In making any decision or approving any regulation we will consider the best experience of the EEU member-states. That is, none of the EEU member-states can insist that the others should take its national laws as a basis. Analyses will be made, and if any of the member-state has more favorable business regulations, the others will take it as a basis. In this respect, the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the ministers, say that Armenia’s experience could be of great interest to them because we have made numerous steps in recent years to cut red tape, and they all are trying to follow our example. Yes, Armenia’s laws are more liberal, and the other states accept this fact and are willing to consider Armenia’s experience because they see reduced red tape in Armenia and electronic governance in many fields.
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