YEREVAN. – Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received several of Armenia’s businessmen who produce and export household goods and food products, at their request. 

The local producers presented their concerns regarding the energy prices’ negative impact on the competitiveness of local products and job retention.

The businessmen asked the PM to petition to Armenia’s strategic partner Russia—and within the framework of membership in the Eurasian Economic Union—with a request to reduce the price of natural gas which Armenia imports from Russia, and setting prices for the producers in local currency.

PM Abrahamyan, for his part, said there shall be no job cuts in Armenia. In his words, the Armenian government stands ready to support local producers in job retention and enterprise development.

The Premier stressed that the progress in Armenia’s economic relations with Russia and other partners depends substantially on the energy prices that do not curtail economic competitiveness. He noted that the Armenian authorities have petitioned to their Russian colleagues regarding energy resources, and considering the strategic nature of Armenia-Russia partnership, they expect a positive solution to the matter.