YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 3, ARMENPRESS. The volumes of processed diamond exports from Armenia are growing every year, Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan told ARMENPRESS in an interview. He said that in 2022 Armenia exported over $400,000,000 worth processed diamonds. Furthermore, leading diamond-cutting enterprises of the world are now finalizing plans to open processing plants in Armenia, Kerobyan said.

Total exports grew 77.7% in 2022. According to Kerobyan, the exports of various types of goods contributed to the growth. Re-exportation comprised a significant part, and some re-processing actions are implemented locally for re-exportation purposes.

“Our consistent work in the direction of certain categories is beginning to give very good results. For example, I have to mention the diamond industry. In 2020 we had a total of $75,000,000 of exports of processed diamonds, in 2021 the figure was $175,000,000, and in 2022 over $400,000,000. We plan higher figures this year because last year, several leading major diamond-cutting enterprises of the world began projects on opening their processing plants in Armenia, and the projects are now being finalized,” Kerobyan said.

It is possible that the factories will be opened in the first quarter of this year.

In 2022, for the first time jewelry exports surpassed $100,000,000. The minister credits the government’s efforts for the results, but says that this is just the beginning of a long road.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

Photos by Hayk Manukyan

Cameramen: Hayk Barseghyan, Hovhannes Mkrtchyan