2010 successful year for Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS: The year of 2010 was active and fruitful for the Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Armenpress news agency spoke with Executive Director of the Chamber Arayik Vardanyan about the works and success that has been registered in 2010.

- Mr Vardanyan what work was carried out last year and what results were registered?

- We registered that what we have planned and implemented last year created new opportunities for businessmen. One of the most important issues of the Chamber is support to businessmen. We have carried out notable work in that direction – meetings with corresponding representatives of international establishments, embassies were conducted as a result of which an opportunity was created for our businessmen to enter concrete countries.

The most important issue is not only support to our exporters but also attract investments to Armenia. Last year we used different mechanisms – business forums, exhibitions of products were organized both in Armenia and other countries. Our businessmen actively cooperated with their partners in Belarus, Ukraine and Turkmenistan. Exhibition of products and business forum was organized in Syria. They give opportunity to the local businessmen to get acquainted with their Armenian partners, establish new ties.

- How many representatives does the Chamber have? Are you planning to expand their rows?

- Currently the Chamber has 18 representatives. We give our members information about them through which they find partners for them. The representatives help the local businessmen get information about Armenia, as well as organize business forums and exhibitions. Our representatives are actively working.

The expansion of representations of the Chamber is not an end in itself. We examine in what country there is an interest about Armenia and vice versa. In case there is a mutual interest we are trying to have a representative there. Currently it is not fixed in what countries the chamber will have representative this year.

- How was the 2010 from the point of view of cooperation with neighboring countries?

- Last year the cooperation with our neighbors was active. Certain cooperation edges were found with Turkey. Our jewelers last year participated in the international exhibition. A memorandum of mutual understanding was signed with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Van. Of course, they more want to cooperate in the sphere of tourism but using the ties we have we are trying to include other spheres of cooperation as well.

We are trying to create ties with Turkish business circles. Turkish business is politicized, the political issues there are tied with business which is not acceptable.

In general in 2010 we had a number of achievements. Our goal is to preserve them in the running year and register new results and success.