YEREVAN. - Armenia must become a large industrial country, said chairman of the Union of Native Commodity Producers Vazgen Safaryan.

Armenia should adopt a concept of industrial development, he believes.

“Industry should be considered a political category, it is the only way to reach economic development,” he said. “During the Soviet years, Armenia was an industrial country. In 1988 Armenia’s budget made 14.9 billion rubles, 66.7% of which were allocated to industry. We need to recover these volumes.”

Asked by the Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent about statements of numerous ecological organizations which claim Armenia’s industrial companies are polluting the environment, the politician said ecological organizations have to raise these issues.

“Industry has to make money, some of which will be spent on environmental issues,” Safaryan added. 

As of June 2011 Armenia registered 24.7% industrial growth.