First-Half Foreign Investments Inflow Into Armenia Up 65%

FIRST-HALF FOREIGN INVESTMENTS INFLOW INTO ARMENIA UP 65%

ARKA
Aug 29, 2008

YEREVAN, August 29. /ARKA/. Armenia’s National Statistical Service
(NSS) reported $515.1mln of net inflow (without loans allotted by
public management agencies and banks) into Armenia’s economy in the
first half of 2008 – 65% year-on-year increase.

Direct investments were up 64.8% to $352.7mln, having the lion’s
share (68.5%) in the first-half inflow of investments into Armenia
(against 68.6% in the first half of 2007).

According to NSS, $221.8mln (43.1% of total investments, 62.9% of
direct investments) was invested in electricity, gas, steam and water
distribution sector. First-half investments in communications totaled
$35.9mln (10.2% of total investments). Some $25mln was allocated in
air transport (7.1%), NSS reported.

Armenia’s major investors in the first half were Russia ($386.7mln),
Argentine ($28.2mln), Lebanon ($21.9mln) and the United States
($16.2mln).