New process in EEU to rapidly enhance Armenia’s role – Ara Nranyan
A new process that is developing now will enhance Armenia’s role both in the region and in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Minister and Board member of the Eurasian Economic Commission Ara Nranyan told Tert.am.
He also spoke of possible cooperation between the EEU and Azerbaijan and Turkey and of demand for Armenian products on the EEU markets.
Mr Nranyan, what opportunities have our citizens got in the EEU?
Armenian citizens working in the other EEU member-states do not have to get registered or obtain “patents” if they have work contracts. Secondly, Armenia’s citizens pay the same taxes as local residents. Their rights are better protected and they are more competitive on the market now. As a result, Armenia’s citizens are secured against extra expenses and financial losses.
And what about businesses?
Any transition period entails technical problems. Most of the issues related to Armenia’s EEU membership have been settled. The only problem I consider the most important is the value-added tax (VAT), and Armenia’s government and the EEU are actively working to settle it. I hope this problem will be settled before the end of this year, which will be followed by increased trade turnover with the member-states. And even owners of small businesses will easily sign export and import contracts with their partners in the other EEU member-states.
Do you think Armenia could play the role of a bridge between the EEU and the European Union? Armenia’s Vice-Premier and Minister of International Integration and Reforms Vache Gabrielyan recently reported a decline in investments. In this context, will they experience a further and could Armenia lose its interest?
The decline in investments is the result of the general economic situation. I am sure investments will be resumed at the first signs of an economic upturn. A new process that is developing now will enhance Armenia’s role both in the region and in the EEU. I mean the possibility of EEU-Iran cooperation, with Armenia playing a key role as the only state bordering on Iran and widest experience in cooperating with Iranian businesses. Last week, members of the work group from the EEU visited Armenia and we had meeting with both the business community and government officials to form an agenda the EEU and Iran are to negotiate. Such processes enhance Armenia’s attractiveness in the region especially as we are considering a possibility of not only signing a transparent and free trade agreement with Iran, but also of including a number of investment projects in it, such as an Iran-Armenia railway project, increase in the gas pipeline’s rate of flow, construction of an oil refinery in Armenia. The processes will promptly produce economic results and, if succeeds, will cause rapid progress in Armenia.
In the context of the aforementioned cooperation, does not a possibility of cooperation with Turkey or Azerbaijan arouse concern, given Azerbaijan’s recent messages?
Numerous states - from Latin America to SE Asia – are seeking closer cooperation with the EEU. The EEU has signed a free trade agreement with Vietnam. Closer cooperation is being established under agreements on mutual understanding with Chile, Moldova, China, India and a number of other states. However, EEU-Azerbaijan cooperation is not on the agenda now. And I do not think it is going to be considered in the near future because Azerbaijan’s economic structure will not allow it to be involved in such integration unions. As regards Turkey, it is one of the major partners of the EEU member-states, and the EEU member-states will naturally continue bilateral cooperation. However, we should not forget Turkey is a member of the EU Customs Union, and free trade or any other type of cooperation with the EEU can hardly be imagined. In any case, a state willing to cooperate with the EEU must be ready to cooperate with all the EEU member-states. On the other hand, all the EEU member-states must be ready for such cooperation.
What’s your opinion of our products’ competitiveness in the EEU, and what proposals could you make that could be of interest and ensure Armenia’s sectoral development?
First of all, Armenian agricultural produce, food, alcoholic beverages – and not only cognac – mineral waters are in demand in the EEU. Light industry enterprises are already working and have presented their products to the market. In the services sector, construction companies, architectural and design offices can play a serious role. High technologies are in great demand, and this sector is really competitive. In the EEU, this sector can be said to be the most developed in Armenia. The countries that signed free trade agreements with the EEU are a huge market for Armenia, and, with efficient management, any Armenian organization can enjoy the advantages of entering this market.
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