Armenian PM Hovik Abrahamyan paid an official visit to the country’s Meghri region on Wednesday.

The PM first visited the Meghri customs point of the Syunik regional customs, the Government press-service reports.

Abrahamyan was briefed on the work of the customs house and the services it provides. The customs house works 24 hours a day. The organization of the passage of citizens and economic entities by the customs point takes at least 10-15 minutes.

It was also noted that the passenger transportations have significantly increased as a result of abolishing the visa regime with Iran.  In connection with this, the PM instructed to bring down to minimum the period of time required for passenger and cargo transportation, as well as continue improving the quality of the provided services.

Thereafter, Abrahamyan visited the site in Meghri region where a free trade zone is planned to be established in near future. The latter is expected to make more substantive the trade and economic, as well as industrial policy with Iran, contributing to the deepening and expansion of bilateral economic ties. Services which will allow to smoothly enter the market of the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran will be organized.

The PM underscored the importance of establishing a free trade zone near the Iranian border, which will enable to organize new productions, increase export, start new processing companies and create new workplaces.

According to the Armenian Economy Minister Artsvik Minasyan, the establishment of the free trade zone in line with the key directions of Armenian economy will open up new and wide opportunities for Armenia, especially for the Meghri region.

Minasyan also noted that upon the instruction of the PM, the project of setting up the free trade zone near the Iranian border has been sent to all the agencies concerned. “This free trade zone, which will include both industrial and infrastructure constituents, as well as services, is expected to be established in a short period of time,” the Minister added.

Abrahamyan also visited Agarak and Meghri communities. He met with the local residents and got familiarized with the problems of their concern.  In the framework of the visit, Abrahamyan was briefed on the implementation of programs in the communities, as well as issues requiring urgent solution.

By the end of his visit, the PM held a consultation with the community heads of the Meghri region.  He informed that Government is going to implement large infrastructure projects in Syunik province, which will definitely contribute to the economic invigoration of the communities and the overall province, as well as attraction of new investments.

“The opening of new workplaces in our country is one of the key issues of the Government, and our policy is aimed at creating new workplaces in the provinces,” Abrahamyan concluded.