The delegation led by the RA Acting Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan was on a three-day official visit to Russia and within the framework of this visit a number of meetings were held with Russian counterparts. During the visit Vahan Kerobyan and the delegation under his lead participated in the 11th International Industrial Exhibition “Innoprom-2021” and other events organized within the exhibition framework.

The delegation consisted of the Deputy Minister Narek Teryan, the Head of the Industrial Development Department of the Ministry of Economy Armen Yeganyan, and the Head of the Foreign Relations Department Armen Ayvazyan.

On July 5, 2021, the Acting RA Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan had a meeting with the Russian Federation’s Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov at the “Innoprom-2021” international industrial exhibition platform.

During the meeting a number of important issues were discussed aimed at deepening the Armenian-Russian trade and economic relations and industrial cooperation.

The parties touched upon the prospects of developing trade and economic collaboration between Sverdlovsk region and Armenia and intensification of activities of the joint working group set up in 2020, as well as the prospects of expanding activities of Russian companies in the free economic zones of Armenia.

The Armenian side invited Russian industrial enterprises to participate as potential beneficiaries in the newly forming “Ararat” industrial park, as well as in the “Engineering City” project.

The parties also discussed the possibilities of Russian companies’ participation in solar panels production in Armenia and exportation to third countries, as well as issues related to the prospects of production of the Russian-made “Sputnik V” vaccine in Armenia.

On the same day, Vahan Kerobyan participated in the main plenary session of the exhibition, which was entitled “From flexible production to cooperation in high-tech sector: new perspectives”.

This year more than 43,000 visitors and 600 industrial companies participated in the “Innoprom-2021” international industrial exhibition.

On July 6, 2021, at the 11th “Innoprom-2021” international industrial exhibition platform, the Acting RA Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan and the Governor of Sverdlovsk Region Yevgeny Kuyvashev signed an agreement on “Realization of Foreign Trade Relations between the RA Ministry of Economy and the Government of Sverdlovsk Region”, which envisages cooperation in tourism, agriculture, investments, industry, trade, and all other possible areas with great potential.

The Agreement between the RA Government and Sverdlovsk Region on cooperation in trade and economic, scientific and technical and cultural spheres, which for 10 years has been a solid legal basis for development of scientific, technical and cultural cooperation, ended in 2018. In order to increase the volume of mutual trade, maintain the positive dynamics of development and implementation of joint scientific and technical programs, in 2019 the Government of Sverdlovsk Region suggested to consider the possibility of signing another agreement for a new period.

Signing the agreement will contribute to expansion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation aimed at development of infrastructure and implementation of joint programs, as well as establishment of new business relations between the Republic of Armenia and Sverdlovsk region.

On the same day, Vahan Kerobyan had a meeting with Vasiliy Kozlov, the Minister of International and Foreign Economic Relations of Sverdlovsk Region. During the meeting, the parties discussed the steps taken to implement the provisions of the agreement signed on July 6 on “Realization of foreign economic relations in the trade and economic sphere between the RA Ministry of Economy and the Government of Sverdlovsk Region”, and a decision was made to develop a road map for this purpose.

Implementation of the agreement will contribute to expansion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation, whereby the parties are obliged to establish necessary organizational, financial, economic, and legal conditions for activities of joint ventures, development and implementation of joint projects of mutual interest. This will also create favorable conditions for participation of Armenian and Russian companies in fairs, exhibitions, and other events organized in Armenia and in the territories of Sverdlovsk region, and for exchange of information on various spheres of cooperation.

The parties also discussed opportunities and prospects for cooperation in the fields of industry, trade, agriculture, tourism, and investments.

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On July 7, 2021, at the 11th “Innoprom-2021” international industrial exhibition platform, the Acting RA Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan had a meeting with Andrey Spilenko, the Director of the Association of Russian Clusters, Techno parks and Special Economic Zones.

During the meeting, the delegations of the two sides touched upon the possibilities of cooperation in the industrial parks and free economic zones of the two countries.

The possibility of organizing free training by the Association of Russian Clusters, Techno parks and Special Economic Zones for Armenian specialists on development of methodologies for FEZ activities and application of new mechanisms was discussed.

The Armenian side offered to consider the possibilities of Russian enterprises to operate in the Armenian logistics center and industrial parks and exporting their products through Armenia to third countries.

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On July 7, 2021, at the 11th “Innoprom-2021” international industrial exhibition platform, the Acting RA Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan had a meeting with Andrey Besedin, the Chairman of the Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chairman of the Board.

During the meeting the parties discussed the possibilities of expanding cooperation, establishing and strengthening business ties, and outlined the most effective ways of cooperation. In this context, reference was made to the issues of participation of Armenian and Russian companies in exhibitions organized in the two countries, organization of joint exhibitions and business forums, establishment of business relations.

An agreement was reached that the Ural side will provide the Armenian partners with the schedule of exhibitions planned by their side in order to plan future organizational work.