Yerevan/Mediamax/. Chairman of the Union of Domestic Producers (UDP) Vazgen Safaryan stated that according to his information, Russian “Gazprom” is going to increase gas tariffs for Armenia up to USD 303 for one thousand cubic meters in 2010 instead of current USD 180.

Speaking to journalists in Yerevan today, Vazgen Safaryan noted that such a step is conditioned by tendencies of continuous reduction of gas consumption volumes in Armenia. At that he reminded that the population consumed 65% of gas, entering the country.

UDP Chairman noted the necessity to increase the level of Armenian GDP to make more than the indices of pre-crisis year of 2008. According to him, in 2008, GDP in Armenia reached USD 11.2bln, and as of the data for the first seven months of 2010, this index made USD 4.37bln, and by the end of the year, judging from the current speeds, it will reach only USD 7.4bln.

Vazgen Safaryan expressed concern by reduction of volumes of agricultural production and construction over twofold. According to him, one should direct investments into the sphere of industry and create conditions for growth of domestic production export.