Friday, 24 October 2014
PM Chairs Fish Farming Development Agenda Discussion
Chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, a consultative meeting was held on development of fish farming, which was attended by representatives of the aquaculture companies and stakeholder agencies.
The Prime Minister pointed out the importance of implementing fish farming development-oriented programs as this industry has great export opportunities.
Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan reported that about 30 percent annual growth has been recorded in fisheries in recent years, which contributes to the growth of exports. In particular, during the first 9 months of this year, exports increased by 30 percent as compared with the same period last year.
The Minister noted that our country has great potential for the development of fish farming, and in the near future a new pilot program will be implemented in order to introduce a new system in this sector under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The fish producers in attendance reported to the Prime Minister their future programs and the existing problems that related to the provision of low-interest loans, State support for exports, as well as the introduction of new technologies that will enable to reduce water loss.
Hovik Abrahamyan welcomed the willingness of companies to make new investment and expressed the Government’s readiness to assist them in tackling the problems.
