November 16, 2009 - 16:49 AMT
Wine-growing strategy necessary in case of Armenia-Turkey border opening
Collaboration strategy with Turkey in wine-growing sphere should be developed in RA in case of Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, Avag Harutyunyan, head of Armenian wine makers union believes. According to him, Armenia will be unable to met competition in Turkish market, as Turkey's wine-growing capacity exceeds that of Armenia 10 times. Besides, Turkey offers low export prices of 25-30 cents per kilo.

According to the expert, even upon establishing collaboration with Turkish winemakers to employ the potential of Western Armenian wineries, RA will have to export the wine of Armenian origin under Turkish brands.

As head of Armenian wine makers union explained, the above mentioned strategy could be implemented only through both countries' economic integration. No serious changes in wine market are to be expected within 10-15 years of border opening, he concluded.