Are Businessmen Being Urged at the Government Level to Find Alternatives to the Russian Markets?

The Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan was asked by Mediahub whether businessmen are being urged at the government level to find alternatives to the Russian market and gradually disengage from Russia and the Russian market.

The minister responded, "No one is saying to switch; we are saying to develop other directions. I myself have been a businessman in the past and would never want my business to depend on one supplier or one customer."

When asked what logistical opportunities the minister sees for avoiding the Lars checkpoint and Russian routes, Kerobyan replied, "Again, you are taking it towards whether to use them or not... All routes must be utilized, even those that are currently closed. You know that the 'Peace Crossroads' initiative aims to open the roads and communications as quickly as possible."

In response to a clarifying question about whether this includes Azerbaijan and Turkey, he answered, "Yes."

Referring to the observation that the 'Peace Crossroads' is not yet ready and that it is unclear when it will be operational, along with the fact that these routes are still closed, and the question of what hope he has for encouraging or perhaps compelling businesses to use these routes that have yet to open, Kerobyan answered, "It is impossible to force businessmen; they can be stimulated, encouraged, and shown opportunities in other directions. Again, I am saying we are not talking about replacing any established trade route with another. It’s simply about developing new directions more intensively and with greater effort."