Recently, local business communities are filled with enthusiasm. The embargo on a group of products from a number of countries to Russia gives great hope to Armenian producers to increase their export volumes. But, as people have rightly observed, “the enemy is from the house.” Recall that official Moscow has decided to impose economic sanctions against the countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia. The access of a group of products to Russian market from European countries, USA, Australia, Canada and Norway is prohibited, such as fish products, dairy products, farm produces, some alcoholic beverages, and meat. While Prime Minister of Armenia, Hovik Abrahamyan, is meeting with business communities, and is sharing their enthusiasm, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) made our producers feel “unpleasantly surprised”. A big room has been opened in the Russian market especially for Armenian wines, and though our business communities so persistent and encouraged to occupy the “vacant” places with the world famous, but banned in Russia Italian and French wines, we are deprived of the chance to participate even in the exhibition in Russia with our Foreign Affairs Ministry’s “light-hand”.
Today, the wine exhibition launched in Moscow, while the Government of Armenian learned about it only 4 days ago, which is a very short time for our business communities to be able to get prepared and participate in this exhibition. Note that the very international exhibitions provide a “chance” for the producers of any country to present their products to the world and expand the volumes of exports. In the conversation with “Aravot”, President of the Union of Winemakers of Armenia, Avag Harutyunyan, said that such exhibitions should be announced not 4 days but 4 months ago so that the producers could be able to get prepared.
Mr. Harutyunyan said that not to miss this opportunity and to be able to participate in the Moscow Wine Exhibition within this short period of time, they had applied to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and had asked the Ministry to send about 300 bottles of local wine to Moscow, let’ say, for the embassy needs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the right to transport products free and without any obstacles. “Within this important period of time, we just wanted to send the samples of our wines through diplomatic channels without preliminary documentation, when really a chance is opened for us to be expanded and strengthened in the Russian market. But the Foreign Affairs Ministry rejected, it can be said, gave a “prices” to it, saying, no, we take only for our needs, as if saying, I am not in the mood, and do not send.”
Interestingly, just in this period our Foreign Affairs Ministry rejected to help the Armenian entrepreneurs. This ministry probably is not aware that the Foreign Ministry with its chief and the staff, as well as the embassies with their chiefs and staffs are not only for signing documents, receiving per diem from the state budget at the expense of our taxpayers and travelling to foreign countries. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassies are called for establishing economic ties in those countries as well, enhancing and promoting in presenting eventually Armenian, at least, the best products in foreign countries at the government level, which was not done at the Moscow Wine Exhibition. Whereas, Georgian wines receive a great recognition in the world not only die to the taste, but also the country’s Foreign Ministry does not spare effort in presenting the types of their wines everywhere.
Avag Harutyunyan said, “Georgian Foreign Ministry always supports in providing the presence of local producers in the exhibitions, and they send their wines to the exhibition through their MFA.” Recently, a group of business communities met with Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and discussed how the local producers can benefit from the Russian embargo and expand the volumes of export. This meeting was also attended by Avag Harutyunyan, who said that a group of producers expressed dissatisfaction with the Foreign Ministry and urged the Prime Minister to exert pressure on the Ministry.
Nelly BABAYAN
