A group of Iranian investors has committed an estimated US$60 million to fund the construction of the largest slaughterhouse in Armenia, and one of the largest in all of the Caucuses.

 

The 2,400 square meter facility, which will be located near the city of Masis in the Ararat region, will focus on exports of certified halal beef and lamb to Iran, Iraq and Kuwait, and other Gulf countries. Initial processing capacity at the plant will be 200 head of cattle and 200 head of sheep and goats per shift, totaling 100,000 head per year, however projections are that this may double as Armenia’s livestock sector matures.

 

It is estimated that the new facility will work to increase Armenia’s export volumes of beef and lamb by 5,000 to 10,000 tons per year. Mohammed Reisi, the Iranian Ambassador to Armenia adds, “Armenia already supplies high quality meat products to [Iran], where there is steady high demand. The opening of the new slaughterhouse will expand the volume of supplies.”

 

Armenia is also looking to expand its exports to other markets, particularly to counties in the Eurasia Economic Union (EEU) including Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, with the construction group, Armenian Avenue, estimating that within the next two years, Armenia’s meat exports to the EEU could increase six-fold from the current 496 tons. In addition, after extensive talks, Russia has lifted its ban on Armenian beef and lamb in place since 2007, and the country is looking toward expanding its range of approved exports in the near future.