Russian Ministry for Regional Development publishes data on cooperation with Armenia

The Russian Ministry for Regional Development has published
information on cooperation with Armenia.

Interregional cooperation

The legal basis for interregional contacts is bilateral
inter-governmental agreements on the principles of cooperation between
the administrations of the Russian regions and regional
administrations of Armenia signed on December 21, 2011. The legal
basis includes agreements on trade-economic, scientific-technical and
cultural cooperation.

Astrakhan Region – 2006;
Moscow Region – 2008;
Saratov Region – 2001;
Sverdlovsk Region – 2008;
Moscow – 1998 and others

Analyses show that approximately 70 regions of Russia are involved in
cooperation with Armenia, led by the Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Rostov,
Sverdlovsk and Samara Regions.

Trade turnover, exports, imports

Russia is leading in the list of foreign economic and investment
partnerships of Armenia.

Most Russian regions are exporting more products to Armenia than
importing from it. The main products for export are vehicles and
equipment, means of transport and food. The main imported products
are: alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks, construction materials and
electrical equipment.

The highest level of trade turnover in the first months of 2010 was
registered in the following regions:

Moscow Region - $35.7 million;
Rostov Region – $27.5 million;
Stavropol Territory - $11.2 million;
Nizhegorodsk Region - $10.6 million;
Tatarstan - $6.3 million;
Chelyabinsk Region - $3.6 million;
Novosibirsk   Region - $3.1 million;

Krasnoyarsk Territory - $1.6 million;
Perm Territory - $1.3 million;
Bryansk Region - $1.3 million.

Investments

According to January 1, 2010, the total number of Russian enterprises
in Armenia amounts to 1380 (1234 in 2008).

The most efficient enterprise is RUSAL, which holds 100% of the shares
of the ARMENAL foil factory. It is one of the largest Armenian
enterprises and the only foil maker in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

$180 million of investments were provided for ArmRosgazprom within the
gas transport and gas distribution system in Armenia for 2009-2011.
57% of the sum is for gas transport, 43% for distribution. The total
sum of investments into ArmRosgazprom in the last 4 years reached
$700-$750 million. $550 million of this sum came from the main
shareholder of the company, Gazprom.

Culture and education

The higher education centers of Kostroma Region are cooperating with
the botanical gardens of the Institute of Botany of the National
Academy of Sciences of Armenia and Yerevan State University. The Orlov
Regional Academy of State Service signed a cooperation agreement with
the Academy of State Management of Armenia, while the Rostov State
Conservatory (academy) of Rakhmaninov is cooperating with the Yerevan
State Conservatory of Komitas.

Krasnodar Territory held a festival of Armenian culture in 2008. The
regional daily paper, Kuban Today, published an issue with an insert
card called “Kuban - Our common home”, about the historical and
social-cultural characteristics of the Armenian population.

One of the most structured public unities is the Russian Armenian
Union. This organization cooperates with Russian executive
authorities. The Russian Armenian Union supports Armenians.