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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: In January-September of the running year 12.2 tons of carpets and rugs were produced in the republic: the reduction as compared with the same span of the past year made 18,2%. In 2009 as compared with the 2008 72.9% reduction was registered. In 2009 67 people were engaged in the sphere instead of 335 of the 2008. Armenpress news agency spoke with head of the industry department of the Economy Ministry Hayk Mirzoyan about the issues of carpet making.
- How many carpet making companies are functioning in Armenia?
- Seven enterprises are dealing with carpet and rug making in the republic. The production of handmade carpets is organized by “Tufenkyan Trans Caucasus” company and “Megeryan Carpet” company. “Armen Carpet” company produces both handmade and machine-made carpets. Ijevan’s “Jrashogh” company is specialized with the production of machine made carpets.
- Are carpets being exported? If yes, to what countries and how much?
- The handmade carpets are mainly consumed abroad, for instance “Mergeryan carpet” company consumes the 80% of its products in the USA and 20% in Europe. As to the machine-made carpets they are mainly consumed in the CIS countries and Georgia.
- What steps are being undertaken for the development of carpet making?
- Viewing the carpet making not only as industrial branch but also part of Armenian culture and art, on the initiative of the Economy Ministry corresponding changes were made in March 2009 in the laws “About VAT”, “About Income Tax” and “About Profit Tax” with which the consumption of handmade carpets produced in Armenia by direct manufacturer is freed from the VAT. The impact of the crisis on the carpet making sphere is greater than on other spheres as in condition of crisis the purchasing ability of the population reduces and people first of all acquire goods of first need, cutting other expenditures. Though the production of handmade carpets sharply decreased as a result of reduction of the demand, in long-term period the mentioned legislative changes may promote the development of the sphere.
Our ministry rates high the development of the light industry sphere thus it considers the implementation of activities necessary for promotion of increase of competition of the sphere, expansion of foreign markets very important. With this aim the ministry conducted a number of discussions with business representatives taking into consideration their remarks and suggestions.
Currently concept and strategy on export is being worked out where the analysis of the current situation, the existing issues and list of events are presented.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS:
In January-September of the running year 12.2 tons of carpets and rugs were produced in the republic: the reduction as compared with the same span of the past year made 18,2%. In 2009 as compared with the 2008 72.9% reduction was registered. In 2009 67 people were engaged in the sphere instead of 335 of the 2008. Armenpress news agency spoke with head of the industry department of the Economy Ministry Hayk Mirzoyan about the issues of carpet making.