In his interview to tert.am Artak Manukyan, Procurement Expert of Transparency International Anticorruption Center (TIAC) addressed increase in prices of some products due to Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Not only will the price of crystal sugar increase soon but also of wheat. A draft on sugar import restraint, especially white sugar import to Armenia is planned to be on the agenda of the upcoming Government meeting. Crystal sugar is mainly imported from Brazil and Germany, and as a result of the decision the Armenian importers will have to change their foreign partners and establish new business relations in EEU.

In view of the above mentioned, Artak Manukyan noted that it would be much truer for the State Procurement Agency to purchase the essential goods immediately from commodity and raw materials exchange in order to exclude the mediators from receiving excess profit.

In his opinion as TIAC Procurement Expert he added that a relevant provision was included in the Armenian legislation in 2011, but it also implied that it would be in effect by Government order. The law passed nearly four years ago but no secondary legislation was adopted since then that might restrict the procedure. However he summed up that it was not done with intent to receive excess profit.