ArmInfo. The RA Ministry of Economy responded to the statement by the Armenia-China Partnership Center NGO regarding the obstruction of its participation in the China International Import Expo (CIIE).
The ministry's statement noted that for many years, the Ministry of Economy has been ensuring the participation of the Republic of Armenia in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) with a unified national pavilion. As part of this program, the Armenia-China Partnership Center NGO, with the support of the Ministry, participated in the exhibition as part of the national pavilion in 2023-2025. According to information received by the Ministry during the preparatory stage of the 2025 exhibition, the organization planned to participate with a separate (commercial) pavilion, which is prohibited by the order of the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia dated February 19, 2025. The Armenian-Chinese Partnership Center NGO officially assured the Ministry that it would participate in the exhibition exclusively as part of the RA national pavilion, based on which the Ministry approved the organization's application for participation. However, in 2025, during participation in the RA national pavilion, discrepancies with the requirements of the current procedure were recorded. It was discovered on site that the organization presented in the national pavilion products of other companies, including economic operators that had not submitted an application for participation to the Ministry in the prescribed manner, had not passed the selection stage, and had not concluded the relevant agreement. Meanwhile, according to paragraph 3 of the procedure "Participation in international exhibitions abroad with a national pavilion", an exhibitor may be a legal entity registered in the Republic of Armenia, an individual entrepreneur, an industry association, a foundation, or a public organization that presents exclusively its own products and (or) services at the exhibition. Thus, presenting the ministry's decision as an attempt to "deliberately hinder" NGO participation is nothing more than a deliberate distortion of reality.
"The RA Ministry of Economy attaches great importance to the development of Armenian-Chinese economic cooperation and is working to expand bilateral trade and economic ties and promote Armenian products in the Chinese market. At the same time, the participation of all organizations in programs implemented by the ministry implies strict adherence to established requirements and procedures," the ministry's statement reads.
