YEREVAN, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN. By the 2008 Report on World Trade Promotion of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Armenia is in 61st place among 118 countries by the trade promotion index, taking the first place among CIS countries and exceeding the indices of Ukraine (68), Azerbaijan (78) and Russia (103). NT was informed by the Economy and Values research center - partner of the WEF's Global Competitiveness Network that this report was published by the WEF for the first time and analyses the conditions of ensuring efficiency of the factors forming the basis of free commodity flow among countries - in each of the examined countries. According to the report, Armenia is in 43rd place by the market entrance freedom index: the economic policy conducted in Armenia sufficiently promotes the foreign production inflow. On the other hand, the impact of regulation on the country's borders on trade is especially unfavorable (87th place). Armenia is in 77th position by the index determining the transport and communication infrastructures and in 53rd position by the index of the sector's business environment. Out of the factors influencing international trade, the tariff and nontariff restrictions (14th place) and the legislative field on business environment (47th place) are especially effective. It is said in the report that among Armenia's results in the sector, the most vulnerable ones are the efficiency of customs regulation (103rd place), transparency of the activities of the regulatory bodies on the borders (92nd place), the availability and quality of transport means (89th place), and the access and quality of information and communication means (86th place). Hong Kong and Singapore are the world leaders by their trade promotion indices: they are in leading positions in terms of international trade openness and investment attraction ability.

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