Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the regular sitting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Nur Sultan, which was attended by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich, and Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, an observer state in the EEU.

In his speech PM Pashinyan particularly said,

“Honorable members of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council,
Dear participants of the meeting,

First of all, let me thank our Kazakh partners for hosting today's meeting at a high level.

Taking this opportunity, dear Alikhan Askhan, I would like to congratulate you once again on your appointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan. I am confident that your rich experience will make a significant contribution to both the development of Kazakhstan and the deepening of our integration union.

I sincerely welcome the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov and reaffirm my readiness to develop cooperation within the framework of joint programs with observer countries, including in terms of separate initiatives of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Dear colleagues,

I would like to note with satisfaction the positive results and trends registered in 2021 in the sphere of bilateral trade between our countries. It is important that in the face of epidemiological limitations and global economic shocks, work within the Union continue in a coordinated manner.

Moreover, in 2020, due to external factors such as the slowdown in the growth of global trade and industrial production, in the light of decline in bilateral trade, the Armenian economy ensured a significant increase in mutual trade with the EEU countries. The trade turnover in 2021 increased by 20.6% as compared to the previous year, amounting to 2.7 billion US dollars. The volume of exports from Armenia to EEU countries increased by 25.2% in the same period. At the same time, the growth rates of exports in bilateral trade are higher than the growth rates of exports of Armenian products to third countries. Fresh and processed agricultural products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, textile and footwear products, as well as products of a number of other industries in demand in the EEU member states ensured the highest growth rates.

Along with the growth of export volumes, the imports from the Union countries to Armenia have also increased. Thus, imports by country of origin increased by 18.5%.

We hope that this year the cooperation will be no less effective, including due to the progress in the main spheres of the Union's integration and implementation of new initiatives.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that such results have been made possible thanks to the coordinated efforts of national governments and Union bodies. We have all reformatted our work in favor of more practical action, quick decision-making for the benefit of our citizens and business. At this stage, it is very important to maintain the exisiting pace, to continue developing mechanisms for jointly responding to economic challenges.

Colleagues,

Today, the level of development of digital technologies plays a decisive role in the competitiveness of countries and economic unions. The Republic of Armenia considers the transition to a digital economy as a key driver of economic growth, actively participates in and supports the formation and implementation of the Union's digital agenda.

In this context, I would like to emphasize the importance of implementing the Eurasian network project of industrial cooperation, subcontracting and technology transfer. Industrial cooperation between the countries of the Union should be aimed at deepening cooperation in priority areas, eliminating trade barriers, developing import substitution, introducing innovations, and creating new high-tech industries.

I would like to note that Armenia has capabilities in the field of microelectronics, which allow to produce complex electronic products, which can also be an important step in the development of cooperation between microelectronics enterprises within our Union.

In addition, we attach importance to the expansion of industrial cooperation in the field of civil aviation.The development of this direction will allow manufacturers to focus their efforts on their own production of the most demanded products.

In this regard, it is necessary to expand the tools of state support for industry in the countries of the Union, and the possible directions of their progressive convergence.

Discovering the digital potential of the Union, I cannot fail to mention the signing of the agreements "On the use of navigation seals on the cargo track in the EEU" and "On the mechanism of traceability of goods". The application of the provisions of the agreements is aimed at providing long-distance digital escort for cross-border transportation of goods, simplification of the procedure for their customs clearance at the border, and ultimately aimed at increasing the transparency of transportation, which will also have a positive impact on the development of transport services. The diversification of transport infrastructure will stimulate the growth of trade within the Union, the export of goods to foreign markets, as well as the development of transit transport corridors.

No less important is the development of e-commerce, which not only is rapidly gaining momentum, changing the consumer behavior of the world market, but also expands its cross-border capabilities. At the same time, it is necessary to accelerate the work on improving the e-commerce taxation mechanism within the Union, in accordance with the best global experience of tax administration.

Finally, taking into account the fact that Kyrgyzstan took over the presidency of the Eurasian Economic Union in 2022, I would like to wish success to our partners and reaffirm the readiness of the Republic of Armenia to cooperate with the presiding country and the member states in favor of further Eurasian integration.

I am confident that our joint efforts will be successful both within the Union and at the national level for the benefit of our citizens.

Thanks for attention".

Issues related to Uzbekistan's participation in separate initiatives within the EEU, macroeconomic situation of the EEU countries, proposals for economic development, traceability of goods within the Union, further cooperation in the field of industry were discussed during the sitting.

It was decided to hold the next meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Belarus in June this year.

The Prime Minister’s working visit to Kazakhstan is over.