YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The governmen’s of Armenia and the United States signed a memorandum Thursday that will send an $8.2 million–36,000-ton shipment of grain to Armenia
The memorandum was signed by Minister of Economy and Finance–Armen Darbinian–and Minister of Agriculture–Vladimir Movsisian–representing Armenia–and Ambassador Peter Tomsen representing the United States.
Tomsen noted that this newest shipment of grain will be the first such shipment to Armenia this year financed by USAID. Approximately 64,000 tons of grain has already been delivered to Armenia this year on funding from other sources.
"This aid testifies that the US Government will continue to help Armenia establish free market relations and democracy," said Tomsen.
Like many of the other shipment sent–this shipment will also be sold at an auction. The starting auction price of the grain will be about $23 per ton.
Darbinian noted that this will promote development of bread-producing and selling enterprises–raise competition in that field and regulate honest and correct market relations.
Movsisian said that in mid August the grain will appear at the port in Poti–and that it will be used for food only. Taking into account the fact that Armenia consumes about 600 tons of bread daily–this lot of grain is enough to cover the Republic’s needs for two months.