YEREVAN, APRIL 30, NOYAN TAPAN. 32 companies of light industry, which were subjected to monitoring by the RA ministry of economy in 2007, manufactured production of 8.1 bln drams (over 3.2 mln USD) in 2007, or by 15% less than in 2006 when their production amounted to 9.5 bln drams. NT correspondent was informed by Armen Yeganian, head of the ministry's territorial economic development unit that the decline was mainly conditioned by the fact that the branch mostly operates by the customs mode "temporary import for processing" and production volumes depend on foreign orders. In 2007, sales of these enterprises' production made 8.2 bln drams (in 2006 - 9.3 bln drams), while their exports made 5.9 bln drams (in 2006 - 7.3 bln drams). According to A. Yeganian, normal operation of the light industry is ensured thanks to Hayas Group garment factory, Arshaluys OJSC, Luxe shoe factory and several other big enterprises. He said that local production is mainly competitive in international market, with export promotion being one of the directions of the ministry's policy. The ministry has developed a draft 3-year state program of assistance to handmade carpet making. The draft in particular envisages such measures as financial support to operating enterprises, assistance with production export, and organization of exhibitions and advertising. A. Yeganian underlined the necessity to maintain the development rates of the handmade carpet making and to attract foreign investments to this sector. In his words, about 10 handmade carpet making enterprises currently operate in Armenia.

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