Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan continues his working visit to Kazan, which is hosting the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council’s regular session. On April 30, Nikol Pashinyan took part in the expanded-format meeting of the EAEU Intergovernmental Council. Note that a narrow-format sitting was held on April 29.

Today’s meeting was attended by the heads of governments of EAEU-member states: RF Premier Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Ulukbek Maripov, and Eurasian Economic Commission Board Chairman Mikhail Myasnikovich.

In attendance were the heads of government from observer nations: Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Aureliu Ciocoi (via video link), as well as official delegations from invited countries: Prime Minister of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda and Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov. A video message from the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, Manuel Cruz was presented during the meeting.

The Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia stated in his remarks:
“Dear Heads of Government,
Distinguished meeting participants,

First of all, I would like to sincerely thank Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin for high-level organization of this regular meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and for traditional hospitality. I would also like to express my gratitude to President Rustam Nurgalievich Minnikhanov of the Republic of Tatarstan for the warm welcome.

I offer my sincere greetings to the heads of government of EAEU observer states: Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov and Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova Aureliu Ciocoi who attends the meeting online.

I am pleased to welcome Tajikistan Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda and Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Gurbangulyevich Berdimuhamedov.

Friends, yesterday we had a detailed exchange of views on all key issues on our agenda. Today I would like to briefly touch on some of them, which we consider topical for the Union.

The functioning of the EAEU, which has given an additional impetus to the development of economic cooperation between the member states on a qualitatively new basis, is moving forward against the backdrop of new global challenges, which have slowed down the pace of interstate integration, as a whole. I mean the restrictions caused by the pandemic, as well as the coincidental or subsequent transformation of the global economy, where high technologies have become ever more important.

The need for a comprehensive study and identification of areas that have the greatest reserves of practical cooperation comes to the fore in terms of adaptation. In particular, the new environment has revealed the need for cooperation in the fields of public healthcare, education and in the social sphere.

2020 revealed a broad range of new tasks, which seek to streamline key areas such as the functioning of the internal market, the regulation of exports and imports of specific types of sensitive goods.
From the perspective of further disclosure of the Union’s integration potential, we should also consider the interstate program on outer space, which we discussed yesterday. I am convinced that the result will not be long in coming.

Dear participants,

Mindful of the imperative to deal with the priority tasks of integration, I would like to highlight the document, which is being considered today, referred to as The Main Directions of Industrial Cooperation within the EAEU until 2025. I think it appropriate to reiterate that the industrial sector is one of the main locomotives of the Union's economic system.

The establishment of a full-fledged single market of goods is practically impossible without a coordinated policy in this direction. We believe it is important to continue working to deepen industrial cooperation and coordinate national policies. Of course, we are also interested in increasing the competitiveness of products manufactured in the EAEU on both domestic and foreign markets. Consistent implementation of the main provisions of the document will contribute to the sustainable development of the industrial complex, as a whole.

One of the most important guidelines of the document is the joint stimulation of innovative development and digital transformation of industry. Taking into account the rapidly changing economic environment, the transition to a new level of technological development of economies is becoming crucial. Digital transformation continues to be one of the pillars of integration. We traditionally adhere to the opinion that cooperation needs to be deepened in this direction.

I am confident that the prospective completion of our strategic directions will help us implement a coordinated industrial policy and, in conjunction with other measures, will improve the competitiveness of goods produced in the Union.

Dear Colleagues,

In conclusion, I wish to thank all of you for joint work, and reaffirm Armenia’s readiness and firm determination to do its utmost to expand the scope of economic interaction and achieve consistent disclosure of the Union’s integration potential. Thank you.”

The EAEU heads of government discussed several issues on the meeting’s agenda, including coordination of measures to regulate exports of certain types of sensitive goods within the Union, measures aimed at protecting the agricultural market from hazardous viruses, as well as the extension of the serial product certificate for goods manufactured in Kazakhstan for export to other EAEU countries.

The Council took note of the report on the development of e-commerce. The main directions of industrial cooperation within the EAEU until 2025 were approved. Reference was made to the prospects for cooperation in the field of spatial services.

A number of documents were signed, including the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Eurasian Intergovernmental Council’s next meeting is scheduled to be held in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyz Republic.