Wednesday, 8 April 2009
RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan called a consultative meeting attended by the minister of economy and the members of Domestic Commodity Producers’ Union.
To begin with, the prime minister noted that the meeting was called to discuss the current economic situation in the Republic with a view to finding ways to overcoming the negative impact of the global financial and an economic crisis. In stressing that regular consultations with the Republic’s economic entities is a priority on the Government’s anti-crisis agenda, Tigran Sargsyan pointed out the need for keeping in close touch with domestic commodity producers.
Thanking the Prime Minister for this meeting, Domestic Commodity Producers’ Union chairman Vazgen Safaryan and the heads of over two dozens of domestic companies and enterprises presented their views, opinions and proposals concerning the current situation and the prospects for Armenia’s economic development.
Vazgen Safaryan noted that the Union has already examined the Government’s anti-crisis program and that the Union endorses the approaches stipulated in the program as a whole and are prepared to support the projects aiming the development of small and medium-size enterprise, improvement of infrastructures. The domestic commodity producers said the State should have a stake in corporate equity, provide for increased lending, improve tax policy and, in particular, stimulate local farming, develop innovative technologies, tourism, create export-focused entities, foster government-trade unions cooperation etc.
Vazgen Safary also noted that the Domestic Commodity Producers’ Union is a member of the International Union of Commodity Producers and thereby may contribute to the expansion of domestic exports.
Summarizing the meeting, the Prime Minister stated the government’s and his own vision of the questions raised, briefed those present on ongoing and planned action and went on to assure that the questions raised will be given close consideration in order to use them in future action. Tigran Sargsyan gave specific orders concerning some of the proposals.
Emphasizing once again the importance of this meeting held with domestic commodity producers, the Prime Minister said that meetings like this will be followed up on a regular basis as they help find sound approaches to questions discussed.
