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YEREVAN, MARCH 22, ARMENPRESS: For more than one year Armenia is getting use of the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+) trade system. From January 1 2009 the Republic of Armenia has got a right to export products to the EU countries in privileged terms. Head of the Economy Ministry’s EU and International Economic Cooperation Department Varos Simonyan presented to Armenpress the results and achieved success registered during the past year.
- For more than a year Armenia is getting use of the GSP+ trade system. What results have been achieved during this period, and what has it given to businessmen?
- Unequivocally quite good results have been achieved and the response of the businessmen is only positive. Previously for exporting any brand produced in Armenia to the European market a certain customs fee must have been paid. GSP+ system allows the countries involved in it, and there are 16 such, to export products to European markets with zero or a low customs fee. In such case, it is not difficult to imagine how much profit each businessmen exporting his product gets. We may say that getting use of the system is a very good tool for promoting the export. By getting use of the system, we get one-sided benefit from the bilateral trade with the EU. The EU member states continue paying certain customs fees in case of importing products to Armenia. We were previously using the GSP system with which it was allowed to import over 2 000 kinds of products with certain customs fee. In case of GSP+ we can export both more kinds of products and with low customs fee. The users of the system may export more than 6 000 kinds of products including cigarettes, natural juices, vegetables, fruits, etc. It may be described as achievement.
- What works are being carried out to increase the level of awareness of businessmen?
- We are carrying out quite intensive activity in that direction. With the participation of businessmen we have organized a few workshops, seminars. Afterwards, last year with the European experts we conducted a big workshop with the participation of 50 businessmen. They were presented the peculiarities of the system and received answers to the questions they were interested in. A corresponding EU web site is functioning which includes quite effective information for an exporter. To show businessmen the way of using the site corresponding classes were organized. The web site is a guideline for businessmen. Now we initiated the creation of the Armenian variant of the web site to avoid language issues. Works in that direction continue and it will be ready by the end of the year. Everything is being done to present the information to the businessmen in an available way. The businessmen continue applying to us asking questions about getting use of the system and receive full answers.
- From which GSP systems Armenia is getting use of?
- Different GSP systems are functioning in the world, Armenia is getting use of the one of the USA, Canada, Switzerland, the EU systems, with Belarus and Russia it has free trade agreement. All the necessary works have been carried out for getting use of the Norway’s GSP system, I may say it is the last round. In May we are planning the visit of the Norwegian side to Armenia during which an informative seminar will be conducted for local businessmen. I think in May the Norwegian GSP system will be available for our businessmen. All the GSP systems give opportunity of privileged regime.