‘We Wear Italian Shoes and Clothing of Armenian Origin’: Ghazaryan

From Sept. 18–19, for the first time, the “Let’s Buy Patriotic” festival and sale exhibit will take place at Yerevan’s Botanical Gardens, said Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia (UMBA) President Arsen Ghazaryan at a press conference today. He noted that about 25 companies registered to participate in the expo, but he’s certain that the number of participants will increase.

The expo focuses on Armenia’s light industry, where, according to experts, there are numerous issues (a light industry is usually less capital intensive than heavy industries, and is more consumer-oriented). Ghazaryan said that today, Armenian manufacturers prefer to work with non-Armenian brands. As a consequence, the producers, in Ghazaryan’s words, avoid paying taxes. 

“We wear Italian shoes and clothing of Armenian origin; it’s time for us to shake ourselves up and begin to compete boldly,” he said.

Also participating in today’s press conference was head of the Department of Industry at the RA Ministry of Economy Hayk Mirzoyan and UMBA Executive Director Gagik Makaryan.