YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Minister for Trade and Industry Garnik Nanagulian reported that former Prime Minister Armen Sargssian has founded and is the director of the "Agency for Trade–Export and Investment Promotion," recently set up in London to attract western investment to Armenia. This non-profit organization will involve large British and European companies–Diasporan companies and corporations that will be made public later in the future.
For health reasons–Sargssian resigned from office in February 1997 and traveled to England to seek treatment. According to Nanagulian–Sargssian’s health is in satisfactory condition–and he has been appointed advisor to the director of the CIS division of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Speaking on behalf of Sargssian–Nanagulian said that he had founded the abovementioned agency because he was convinced that it is possible to cooperate with the present government of Armenia and that "this government is working for the development of the country’s industry".
According to Nanagulian–the new agency will work toward attracting big foreign investors to Armenia and pursue "a most aggressive and serious policy" in that direction. An agency for investment promotion–recently established by the government–will be the Armenian partner of the agency and author of its investment programs.