ARM/ BOOSTING KEY SECTORS OF THE ARMENIAN ECONOMY WITH HELP FROM EU-SUPPORTED PROJECT

Armenian government and private sector representatives met with international experts in
 Yerevan yesterday as part of an OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Programme project on
 enhancing the competitiveness of key sectors of the Armenian economy. The project is
 implemented with the financial assistance of the SME Panel of the European Union Eastern
 Partnership.
 
 During 2014, two working groups will formulate policy recommendations to promote exports
 by Armenian agribusiness SMEs and to develop construction material SMEs by establishing a
 supportive investment climate for multinational construction materials firms.
 
 Challenges already identified in the agribusiness value chain include fragmentation of
 agricultural production, weak links between agricultural producers and food
 processors, and difficult access to global markets. Issues facing potential construction materials industry investors include the cyclic nature of the local construction sector, high transport costs, and the fit with available natural resources.
 
A high-level Armenian delegation will present the resulting sector-specific recommendations at the OECD Eurasia Competitiveness Roundtable during the week of 24 November 2014 in Paris. The Roundtable will bring together high-level representatives from across the Eurasia region and OECD member countries...(link)