RA emphasizes further rapprochement of economies with Russia

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a message at the opening of the Armenian-Russian Interregional Conference.

“On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, I would like to welcome all participants of the 8th Armenian-Russian Interregional Conference. We are pleased to host all our guests arriving from Russia. The interregional conferences have a ten-year history. They have become one of the important institutions for cooperation within the framework of the allied relations between our two countries. The Armenian-Russian interregional cooperation, based on about two dozen agreements, has a truly wide geography. It includes almost all regions of Armenia and administrative units located in various corners of the Russian Federation, including Leningrad, Orenburg, Yaroslavl, Omsk, Ulyanovsk, Arkhangelsk, Rostov, and Vologda regions. The presence of these connections is a vivid manifestation of the exceptional relations between our two countries.

The Russian Federation plays a key role not only in ensuring peace and stability in our region but also holds a central place and role in our country’s economy. Russia is Armenia’s main trading partner. In 2019, our bilateral trade exceeded the threshold of $2.0 billion, and this year we have already recorded double-digit growth in trade turnover. Russia is also a leader in investments made in Armenia and plays an exceptional role in the development of our country’s infrastructure. Among recent investments, it is particularly noteworthy to highlight the implementation of technological transfer for the production of the Sputnik Light vaccine, which is especially important for our country in the fight against the pandemic.

The level of economic cooperation existing between our two countries meets the requirements stemming from the nature of allied relations, but this does not imply the consolidation of a static situation; on the contrary, it requires constant work, development, and improvement. The world is changing rapidly, and our relations must correspond to the requirements arising from these changes. We need to enhance our economic relations in a way that supports the development of competitive economies in our countries. In this context, we consider our further rapprochement and mutual integration of our economies important, which should be based on the free movement of goods, services, labor, and capital. The Eurasian Economic Union, in turn, serves this strategic purpose, and we are interested in strengthening this structure and improving its institutions. It is also evident that there is a necessity to diversify our economic ties.

In addition to traditional sectors, we must find ways to further develop cooperation in high technologies, innovations, and knowledge-based sectors of the economy. I am convinced that today’s event is one of the tools that best serves the realization of the aforementioned goals. Once again, I welcome all participants of the conference and wish them effective work for the prosperity of our countries and peoples,” said the message.