EcoLur
Refusing to join not Europe, but the Customs Unions poses new questions in the field of “green” economy, as Republican Union of Employers Head Gagik Makaryan stated at the press conference held at EcoLur Press Club on 7 October. The speech focuses on the opportunities, perspectives and resources of “green” economy in Armenia.
“The recent events in our country connected with the EU and the Customs Union showed that the attitude of Europe to Armenia may change: the funding of many programs may stop, which has both political and financial significance, as the funds were used to solve many problems and created certain foreign currency resources for our country.”
Gagik Makaryan noted that the foreign currency enters Armenia at the expense of the export. Around 85% of our export accounts for 25 sorts of goods, which makes up around 1.2 billion USD, out of which exported metals account for 600 million USD, i.e. at the expense of the production obtained from mines and directly connected with ecology, damage to nature and environment. What about agriculture, its share in the list of 25 goods ensures the export for 35 million USD, which is a rather low figure.
A conflict between tourism and mining industry exists, a vivid example of which is Amulsar. The mine is planned to open pit mining near Jermuk resort town, a recognized tourism center. Nevertheless, Gagik Makaryan thinks that Armenia doesn’t have any serious prerequisite to declare about the factual development of tourism. The figures are exaggerated and the incomes are not that high. But the government has chosen an easy way - to open mines, which ensure immediate super profits. The government can’t say to mining industry in economic sense.
Gagik Makaryan thinks, if the policy of “green” economy is formed, the government will gradually reduce the sector of mining industry at the expense of developing other fields.
The aspects of “green” economy will be considered at the conference of 8 October (Metropol Hotel, at 10:00 a.m.).
October 07, 2013 at 17:49