Tigran Sargsyan: The State Has Created Favorable Conditions For Priv

TIGRAN SARGSYAN: THE STATE HAS CREATED FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR PRIVATE SECTOR TO MAKE INVESTMENTS

Noyan Tapan

Feb 3, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. 3.2% economic growth was recorded in
Armenia’s agricultural sector in 2008, including 1.5% in plant growing,
and 6.4% growth in cattle breeding. The RA minister of agriculture
Aramayis Grigorian stated in his annual report submitted to the
prime minister Tigran Sargsyan on February 3 that last year the main
activities of the ministry were aimed at improving the legislative
basis of the agrarian sector.

The deputy head of the RA State Revenue Committee Armen Alaverdian
said that in 2009 the agriculture will be taxed with value added tax
(VAT). However, some criteria for differentiating big enterprises
from small and medium ones should be developed in cooperation with
the ministry of agriculture.

In the words of the prime minister, 80% of farms will not feel
the impact of the law on VAT as the law applies only to big
entrepreneurs. In the next 3 years the agriculture will be one of
the branches of primary importance, and definite programs need to be
implemented for this purpose.

In the opinion of T. Sargsyan, the global financial and economic crisis
is creating exceptional opportunities for the Armenian agriculture,
and it is necessary to realize crucial projects. In particular
special attention should be paid to the processing sector where
great potential exists which is evident from seasonal fluctuations of
prices in winter and summer. It means that the number of processing
enterprises is insufficient. "There are sectors where we see potential
and can increase production volumes and replace the import," the prime
minister noted. As a result, GDP will grow, the balance of payment
and the balance of trade will improve, and new jobs can be created.

Underlining the importance of the cooperation between the state and
the private sector, T. Sargsyan said: "The state has created favorable
conditions for the private sector to make investments".

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