YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Armenian deputy trade and industry minister Tigran Davtian singled out the Italian companies among the 20 other countries who have become active in Armenia this year. According to the minister–the Italian companies are among front-runners in the volume of investmen’s in the Armenian economy and commodity turnover.
The Italian investment programs–now mainly in tourism and trade–plan to expand in the near future. The volume of Italian investmen’s in Armenia in the first half of the year was $3.8 million and is expected to hit $30 million by the end of the year–according to Davtian.
The volume of commodity turnover between the two countries continue to show an upward tendency. In financial expression–the $30 million index of 1999 is expected to grow several times during 2000. However–the share of Armenian export to Italy makes only 3.3 percent in the overall volume of commodity turnover.
The business forum–scheduled to open in Yerevan in late November–will have the latest Italian achievemen’s for small business on display. The display may promote further development of bilateral relations.