ArmInfo. Reducing demand in the service sector due to falling oil prices will be less noticeable than in the construction sector and the real estate market in Russia,  where labor migrants from Armenia are involved. This opinion was  announced on March 12 through the Moscow- Yerevan-Bishkek-Tbilisi- Minsk video conversation by Alexey N. Zubets, Head of the Department of Sociology and Political Science, Financial  University under the Government of the Russian Federation (Moscow,  Russia).

ArmInfo.  Due to the devaluation of the ruble, inflation in Russia can reach 7%, and in  the post-Soviet countries it may be higher than in Russia. On March  12, through   a Moscow-Yerevan-Bishkek-Tbilisi-Minsk video  conversation, answering a question from ArmInfo correspondent, Alexey  N. Zubets, Head of the Department of Sociology and Political Science,  Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation  (Moscow, Russia), said.

ArmInfo.The program "Armenian virtual bridge" will begin to be implemented in Armenia. At the March 12 meeting, the RA Government approved this program.  According to  the Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia Hakob  Arshakyan, the purpose of the presented document is the intention to  connect Armenia with other technological centers, using its  scientific thought, opportunities, as well as the potential of the  diaspora.

ArmInfo. In the difficult  conditions of reduction of credit margin amid lack of client base,  the restoration by the local national system Armenian Card of its  market positions can be considered a significant event in the banking  market last year. This is stated in the regular 20th anniversary  analytical bulletin "Armenian Banks in the Card Business", prepared  by the Rating and Marketing Information Agency (ArmInfo IC). The  bulletin is published twice a year.

ArmInfo. In Armenia, precious metals began to lose price faster, accelerating the decline in prices in the weekly context from 0.1% to 4.7%. Moreover, a downtrend is  observed for all precious metals.

ArmInfo.Users of the Sberbank Online mobile application have the opportunity to make money transfers by phone number to the clients of the digital bank of Armenia - Evocabank. This was reported by the press service of the Russian Sberbank.

ArmInfo. The issue of cooperation with the largest Armenian freight forwarding "Spayka"  company is still on the agenda of the Eurasian Development Bank  (EDB).  Head of the EDB Andrey Belyaninov stated this through a   video conference -"Regional integration, cooperation of the Eurasian  Development Bank with the EAEU countries" (Moscow-Yerevan-Minsk-  Chisinau).  <Due to the emergence of additional risks, we postponed this project  somewhat, and so far we are not considering it closely, although it  is a good project. It is necessary to re-evaluate it, taking into  account the circumstances that are emerging in the conditions of the financial crisis>, he said.

ArmInfo. Despite the difficulties of the financial order, 2020 will be quite fruitful in  terms of cooperation with Armenia. On March 11  through a  video  conference "Regional Integration, Cooperation of the Eurasian  Development Bank with the EAEU Countries" (Moscow-Yerevan-Minsk- Chisinau), answering a question from ArmInfo correspondent,  head of the EDB Andrey Belyaninov said.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.Strategic transaction for the sale of package of shares of International Energy Corporation CJSC (IEC CJSC, Republic of Armenia) owned by RusHydro Group to the  Hrazdan Energy Company, a member of the Tashir Group, has been  completed.

ArmInfo.In the Kotayk region, 51 subvention programs are implemented in the amount of 2 billion AMD. More than 1 billion 48 million will be allocated from the community  budget.

ArmInfo. The World Bank has approved various financial support tools in the fight against  coronavirus, which may be available to Armenia as the need arises.   The Regional Director of the World Bank for the South Caucasus,  Sebastian Molineus announced this on March 10 during a meeting with  Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.

ArmInfo. Small and medium businesses in Armenia do not have a clear idea of the direction the state is heading. Head of Ameria Management Advisory Tigran Jrbashyan  expressed this opinion on March 10 during panel discussions as part  of an event attached to the study on the SME market carried out by  Ameria CJSC. 

ArmInfo.  The most serious cause for concern in the field of small and medium-sized businesses is the lack of readiness of the latter for long-term investments.  Head of Ameria Management Advisory Tigran Jrbashyan told reporters on  March 10, referring to a study of the SME market of Armenia, prepared  for the second time by Ameria CJSC (the first study dates back to  2013 -ed.note).

ArmInfo. Armenia sharply reduced diamond exports against growth by 2.3-fold in 2018 - up to 224.8 thousand carats, which is 65.1% lower than the indicator a year  ago. Customs value was $ 54.1 million, with a y-o-y decline of 29.9%.   According to the RA Customs Service, diamonds are exported from  Armenia mainly to the UAE (62%), Russia (18%), the USA (7%), Belgium  (6.8%), Israel (3.2%) and Canada (2, 5%). 

ArmInfo. In 2019, Armenia slightly reduced natural gas imports by 0.3% - to 2,499,947 cubic meters. The customs value of imported natural gas increased by 11.1%,  amounting to $ 417.6 million.

ArmInfo.

ArmInfo. From January 1, 2021, Armenian business entities developing mines will have to pay taxes on production waste. Minister of Environment of the Republic of Armenia  Erik Grigoryan  announced on January 9 at a meeting of the  Parliamentary Inquiry Committee for Studying the legality validity  and reliability of financial and other reports submitted to the  bodies of executive power and adopted by them in the framework of  investment programs in the area of industrial metal mining.   According to him, from January 1, 2021, payments to the state budget  will begin, which has never happened before. At the same time, the  amount of taxes will vary depending on the degree of environmental  hazards of the mine and will start from 40 thousand drams. Moreover,  in this case we are talking about both polymetallic and non-metal  mines.

ArmInfo. The volume of oil products imported to Armenia increased by 19% in 2019, amounting to 393.2 thousand tons, against the decline in 2018 by 4.6%.  According  to the data of the Armenian Customs Service, a growth of 6.9% was  also recorded in value terms, exceeding $ 297 million.

ArmInfo.If panic persists in the oil market and the devaluation of the Armenian dram continues, prices will rise in the domestic market of Armenia. A similar point  of view is held by an economist, Ph.D. in economics, Suren Parsyan.