YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian-Polish Business Chamber in Armenia is starting its activities. It aims at boosting the commercial ties between Armenia and Poland, creating an environment for the businessmen of the two countries, contributing to the efforts of various companies and businessmen to make investments in both countries.

Edgar Ghazaryan – chairman of the Armenian-Polish business chamber, former Armenian Ambassador to Poland, gave an interview to ARMENPRESS, talking about the programs and future plans of the Chamber.

-Mr. Ghazaryan, how the idea to establish this Chamber was born? Who are the initiators?

-The initiative on establishing an Armenian-Polish Business Chamber existed years before by a number of companies operating in Armenia. It has not conducted an active work for various reasons. Completing my diplomatic mission in Poland and being informed about that organization I had a commitment to assume its chairmanship and make efforts to carry out active works.

-What are the tasks of the Business Chamber? Are there any issues the Chamber can have its contribution to solving them?

-The Business Chamber aims at boosting the commercial ties between Armenia and Poland, creating an environment for the businessmen of the two states, contributing to the efforts of various companies and individual businessmen to make investments ad utilize markets. We believe that there is a great potential in the Armenian-Polish commercial ties that is not utilized, but in case of effectively using this it is possible to record major success in both sides. The new agreement signed between Armenia and the EU in November 2017 creates great opportunities for expanding the business ties between Armenia and the EU member states. From this perspective Poland can play a great and positive role for us.

-You have been Armenia’s Ambassador to Poland and are very familiar with the trade-economic cooperation between the two countries. Overall, how would you assess the Armenia-Poland commercial partnership? In what directions the potential is not utilized?

-Despite being not so large, the Armenian-Polish trade turnover has always showed a growth tendency. During my tenure as an Ambassador I have recorded for myself that unfortunately we both know less about one another. In my opinion, Armenia is not enough informed about the huge economic potential and opportunities of Poland, as well as the Polish businessmen are also less informed about Armenia’s economic environment and existing opportunities. We think that this is going to be the main task of the Armenian-Polish Business Chamber: to provide maximal information to the businessmen of both sides about the economic situation in Armenia and Poland.

We believe that there is a great potential in tourism sector which is again not utilized. The direct flight between Warsaw and Yerevan, that operates almost every day, increases the opportunity to attract Polish tourist towards Armenia. The same can be said about organization of Armenian tourist visits to Poland. In our opinion, the rich history of the Armenian community of Poland, the growing tourism infrastructures in Poland, the affordable prices of goods and services compared to the remaining EU states can be attractive for the Armenian tourists.

-When will the Armenian-Polish Business Chamber start its program activities, and is it already clarified what programs will be implemented this year?

-At the moment the Armenian-Polish Business Chamber overcomes the technical and organizational issues in connection with the re-launch. Meetings have already been held with a number of similar structures. Practical cooperation agreements with several Armenian and Polish chambers of commerce are expected to be signed soon. Actions will be taken soon to expand the number of members of the Chamber and its activity frameworks. We are closely following the ongoing political developments between Armenia and Poland, in particular, during the meeting in Davos the Armenian and Polish Prime Ministers highlighted the need to promote mutual visits and strengthen the economic relations. We think that the Chamber will manage to organize business forums in Armenia and Poland during 2019. We are looking forward to the formation of the Armenian-Polish inter-governmental commission on economic cooperation in the Armenian government, with which joint actions will be taken for the active engagement of our Chamber in that processes. We will soon sum up and provide information to our partner companies about the expected important economic events, exhibitions, trade fairs and etc. in Poland.

Interview by Anna Gziryan

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan