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Time in Yerevan: 11:07,   29 March 2024

Armenia’s investment attractiveness to be presented to 20-25 French companies: Business forum kicks off

Armenia’s investment attractiveness to be presented to 20-25 French companies: Business forum 
kicks off

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. In order to bring the French capital to Armenia, a business forum will launch on February 21 in several cities of France which is going to be a targeted meeting with investors.

Representatives of 20-25 French companies in food, wine-making, information technologies, textile industry, transportation, as well as pharmaceutical sectors will take part in the forum.

The forum will be held by the cooperation and finance of “Business France”.

“Armenpress” talked with Executive Director of the Development Foundation of Armenia Karen Mkrtchyan in order to have more details over the business forum.

-Is it already clarified what are the timeframes of holding the business forum in France?

-The series of events will launch on February 21 and will last until February 28. The first three days we will be in Paris, on February 23 forum will be held in “Business France” where we will meet companies in order to present Armenia’s business attractiveness and answer their questions. We will be in Lyon where we will meet members of the business union and Mayor’s office. We especially attach importance to the meetings over agricultural sector in Lyon. Then we will move to Marseille, where we will also hold meetings. Meeting is scheduled with the representatives of the Armenian-French Chamber of Commerce, as well as with Diaspora-Armenian businessmen. We will also have a meeting with Deputy Mayor of Marseille Didier Parakian.

-What is the role of “Business France” in the organization of the forum?

-We are cooperating with “Business France” within the framework of an EU program, according to which, an EU state company assists a state company of another country, which in this case are the Development Foundation of Armenia and “Business France” which both are engaged in boosting export and investments. “Business France” assists for more than 18 months in order to give their experience of attracting investments and increasing exports to us for which a number of events have been held. Their role is great in the upcoming forum, they first of all assist us on organizational and financial issues. They also help us with their ties to have meetings with the French companies and businessmen. But the interesting thing is that during these 18 months they managed to train our team so that we are able to independently establish contacts with companies.

-Why was France chosen? Is the event only directed to the French businessmen and investors, or will it include a wide circle of participants?

-At the moment the target are France, the French companies, as well as the Diaspora-Armenian businessmen of France. Moreover, there are French companies which recorded achievements in the international market. We think that there is a quite huge potential for attracting the French investments in various fields. We believe that the French companies will want to cooperate with Armenia in the IT sector. The French agriculture sector is also developed, and we see that they are making investments in that field in the region, that’s why we want to promote them to make investments in Armenia as well.

-Will the forum participants be presented with investment programs, or only Armenia’s investment environment, economic situation and legislation will be presented?

-We have quite thorough package which will present Armenia’s economic environment, as well as the brief picture of other fields. During the targeted meetings we will speak about the sectoral advantages. We have examined the business of French companies and we have found potential partners for them in Armenia in order they as well can be interested and make observations.

-As statistics shows, Armenia-France trade-economic ties are not so high, what is the reason of this and what will the forum change?

-I think we can do much more with every our partner country than we do now. Armenia can be considered as a platform for the companies of European countries to enter Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union. There are already Italian, Egyptian and German companies which we assisted and they expressed a wish to make several million USD investments in Armenia in order to be able to enter the EAEU and Iranian markets. Armenia has a geographical position, as well as favorable business environment, qualified labor for being considered as a platform which the European countries see this as a real value. There is just a lack of information, and we must fill this gap. The Armenian Embassy in France also carries out works over the economic development.

-What are the sectors that can make Armenia attractive for the French businessmen?

-The first one is agriculture where Armenia has numerous advantages. High-quality products are produced thanks to Armenia’s climate, water, land, sun. The second sector is the IT where the advantage is the clever, creative and qualified labor. I can say that Armenia has reached a level in the IT sector where the foreign companies appreciate the innovations. Armenia has become an innovation center, and the French companies have not been so active, and we believe that they need to cooperate with us.

-What are your expectations from this forum, in particular, what are the opportunities to attract investments?

-I avoid mentioning numbers, since this is a process and we are targeting the companies for which Armenia can be interesting, but at this initial stage it is unrealistic to speak about numbers. Firstly, we must understand the interest of the French side then we will talk about the sectors. Sometimes we expect that contracts will be signed the next day of the forums. But I wouldn’t say this must be the main expected result. The expected result can be seen at least 6-12 months later. Only in this case when the progress is realized and concrete projects are presented, we will speak about the numbers.

-After the forum how the Development Foundation of Armenia is going to guide the businessman during the further works?

-I want to state that from the very start we are implementing this process and it more intensified during the last 9 months. When there are already investors and want to carry out activity in Armenia, we apply “one window” principle. We are providing assistance to them at various directions. Firstly, we provide general information on Armenia. When the investor is interested with a concrete project, we provide information on the sector and keep them in contact with the respective Ministry or various organizations. We provide information on new laws, taxes, business environment, partners. Even we organize visits to Armenia where we organize meetings with various interested bodies, we make them get acquainted with the real estate market, as well as we try to present Armenia’s nature, beautiful places, hospitality, cultural life which shows the investor how pleasure and safe our country is.

-Will the interested businessmen be given certain privileges?

-We have tax privileges related to all investors. Of course, all the privileges, that exist for the local businessmen, apply also for the foreign ones.

Interview by Vahe Hakobyan

 








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