Armenian exports to EU member countries increased by 32.6 percent in the first eight months of 2017, economic development and investments minister Suren Karayan told journalists on Wednesday. According to him, despite this significant growth, much remains to be done to boost Armenian exports to Europe.
He noted the importance of working simultaneously in several directions – first of all, to ensure the full membership of Armenia’s National Certification Body in the European Association. “This means that the certificate issued by the national authority and laboratory conclusions on the products produced in Armenia will be recognized in the EU, which will greatly facilitate the export procedures for Armenian producers, and will also save on costs,” Karayan said.
Secondly, in January, 2018 Armenia will join the new electronic REX (Registered Exporter System). “Exporters who join this system will not need a certificate of origin of goods when making exports from Armenia to EU worth up to 6000 euros,” Karayan said. According to the ministry, in the first eight months of 2017 Armenian exports amounted to $1.38 billion, which is $246 million (21.7%) higher year-on-year. At the same time, exports to the Eurasian Economic Union in the eight months of 2017 increased by 34.2%.
