Expert: Light Industry Should Be Spurred For Developing Small And Me

EXPERT: LIGHT INDUSTRY SHOULD BE SPURRED FOR DEVELOPING SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES

YEREVAN, July 2. /ARKA/. Vazgen Safaryan, chairman of Armenia’s Union
of Domestic Commodity Producers, speaking today at a news conference,
proposed to spur light industry for developing small and medium
businesses.

In particular, he proposed to launch production of leathers and
woollies.

“Some 10 million pairs of shoes are imported into Armenia every year,
but there is capacity for producing 5 million pairs of shoes here
in the country, and this will satisfy the domestic demand and create
some 3,000 jobs,” he said.

Safaryan said every year Armenia exports 3,500 to 4,000 tons of raw
materials for producing leather to Turkey, Georgia and China.

“Necessary steps should be taken to keep these raw materials in the
country and use them in the domestic industry,” he said adding that
the same situation is in textile industry.

“Now Armenia has some 4,000 tons of accumulated wool and also 1,000
tons as annual output…This wool can be used for producing carpets
and mattresses for the defense and health ministries, and this will
create other 400 jobs.”

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia,
Armenia exported leather and fur worth $1,423,900 in Jan-May
2013 – 4.4% year-on-year decline. —0— – See more at:

From: A. Papazian