YEREVAN. – Goldsmithery and jewelry are declared priority domains for industrial development in Armenia, Economy Deputy Minister Tigran Harutyunyan stated during a press conference on Monday.   

He informed that 38 organizations are carrying out respective activities in the country. Also, products totaling 13.3 billion drams (approx. $32,388,640) were manufactured in Armenia in 2012, whose majority was exported, and this volume is over 16 percent more than in the previous year.  

To promote the development of this domain, the Government of Armenia, together with the Armenian Jewelers’ Association (AJA), is conducting activities toward establishing a free economic zone in Armenia. Around 120 companies from numerous countries are expected to work there, and some 1,500 jobs are expected to be created.

“The free economic zone will enable to bring jewelry companies from a variety of countries to Armenia, which is a more appealing place for business than China,” AJA Chairman Gagik Gevorgyan said, in his turn.

He further informed that much of the respective work is already done, but there are problems concerning finding a location for the aforesaid free economic zone.     

“We are businessmen from abroad. Give [us] a place, [so] we [may] come [and] work!” Gevorgyan stated.