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The Russian market should become traditional for exports of Armenian products, Chairman of the Union of Domestic Manufacturers Vazgen Safaryan said at a press conference today.

“We need to increase the number of greenhouses so as to be able to export fruit and vegetables all the year round from Armenia to the Russian market. We should make the Russian market a traditional one for us,” the union head said, adding that the agricultural year was successful in Armenia, but the harvest was not completely procured, which caused discontent of farmers.

“Why wasn’t the rich harvest of grapes sold? The point is that the ruble has depreciated against the dollar and the Armenian dram, and Armenian manufacturers of wines and brandies failed to sell last’ year’s products in the Russian market,” Safaryan explained.

He said that according to data of the Union of Domestic Manufacturers, 68-70 thousand tons of fruits and vegetables have been exported to Russia, including 10 thousand tons of grapes.

“In connection with Russia-imposed restrictions on agricultural produce imports from Turkey, the Armenian government should pay more attention to agriculture and also work out a policy to promote sales of Armenian products on Russia’s market,” V. Safaryan noted. 
Another participant of the press conference, MP of the opposition ‘Prosperous Armenia’ faction Lyova Khachatryan shared the opinion that the agricultural year was good, but ‘because of “the absence of a comprehensive program, the republic was not able to enter markets that are easy to enter”.

Safaryan noted that Armenia’s agriculture and industry should work as a single mechanism. “This should become a key policy of the Armenian government,” he said.