YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. “Alternative Investments in Armenia” two-day international financial conference has kicked off in Yerevan.

The conference is attended by more than 150 participants from Armenia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Curaçao.

The purpose of the conference is to create opportunities for growth of alternative investments sources in Armenia. At the same time, the forum is one of the important events for the activation of the Digital Julfa Network, in addition to attracting investments for Armenian startups. 

Venture and corporate venture funds are sources of funding which ensure investments in startups, innovative projects by boosting the economic growth.

The conference will focus on topics as the trends in global capital market, the private capital as alternative assets for making investments with smart money.

BDO Armenia group will work during the conference. Its specialists will provide primary consultations to companies on tax and legal topics.

“The sources of alternative investments will promote the money flow to Armenia’s economy, by supporting the innovative ideas, increasing the efficiency and creating an opportunity for institutional capital management”, Orion Worldwide Innovations CEO and Founder Emma Arakelyan said.

The conference gathered investors, representatives of venture companies, family offices, financial firms, private companies, governments, and embassies. 

“Armenia’s financial market today consists of around 10,3 billion USD loan investments, 3,6 billion USD state bonds, 1,1 billion USD corporate bonds, 670 million USD issued shares, and the funds distributed by the private capital funds into the economy are less than 200 million dollars”, Partner, Head of Advisory at BDO Armenia Aleksandr Shaghikyan said, adding that one of the goals of this forum is to contribute to accelerative increase in alternative investments, which will lead to economic growth and creation of a public good.

Highlighting the importance of the conference, Minister of Economy of Armenia Vahan Kerobyan said that the ministry and the government aim at developing the alternative financing layers of the economy. He said that the research conducted jointly with the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs has showed that 74% of Diaspora-Armenians are ready to make investments in Armenia. People also consider the possibilities of private investments.

“There are major opportunities in Armenia for attracting private investments. The goal of our government is to change the structure of the economy and transition from a consumption-based growth model to an investment-based model, reaching the total volume of investments to 25% of the GDP, the volume of foreign direct investments to 6% of the GDP, etc. I assure that all preconditions exist for the private investment funds to operate successfully in Armenia, and the government will assist in every way the formation of these funds and their success”, Kerobyan said.

The conference has been organized in cooperation with Orion Worldwide Innovations and BDO Armenia.         

Emma Arakelyan Aleksandr Shaxikyan Vahan Qerobyan

Photos by Hayk Manukyan