YEREVAN. - It’s necessary to change the economic policy run in Armenia, Chairman of the Union of Domestic Manufacturers Vazgen Safaryan said at a press-conference today.

According to him, considering the data for 9 months, in the current conditions even the volumes of export and import have fallen. “This is indicative of the purchasing power of the citizens. We must be able to substitute the import with goods of local production. For 15 years, Armenia imported and exported goods costing $41 billion and $14 billion respectively. Thus, the negative balance for 15 years constituted $26 billion,” Safaryan said.

In Safaryan's words, the draft constitutional amendments don’t guarantee job security. “This draft should have included a norm under which the state would strive to ensure job for every citizen in terms of increasing the effectiveness of implementing the economic policy. This task should be considered. I think the country’s leadership should take certain measures in this direction,” he said.