Armenia’s premier business advisory services provider, Ameria Group, is expanding its offices in Los Angeles after one year of operations in the United States of America. Ameria Group Inc. opened the doors of the new office, located in the heart of downtown of the city of Glendale, with the largest concentration of American-Armenians, at 330 N. Brand Blvd on December 13th, 2012.
Ameria Group’s LA Office CEO Rafi Manoukian, currently a member of the Glendale City Council and twice a former mayor, welcoming the guests, said: “It is my pleasure to head Ameria’s LA office because through Ameria I see a great opportunity to connect the Diaspora to Armenia’s promising business opportunities. Ameria’s philosophy is getting away from individual relationships and starting institutionalized relationships. As a group of professional companies, Ameria provides full-fledged advisory and financial services in Armenia and former CIS countries. Ameria Group’s LA office gives direct access to Ameria’s specialized services in Armenia as it relates to investors’ legal, management, equity financing or mergers and acquisition needs.”
The grand opening of the Ameria Group’s new LA office was a highly attended event by about 100 members of the Diaspora business community, community organizations, dignitaries and opinion makers, such as the representatives of the Armenian Bar Association, Congressman Adam Schiff’s Office, Diaspora’s major media outlets, AACC, Homenetmen Ararat Chapter and more.
Artsakh Development Group Board Member and Attorney at Law Gerard Kassabian stressed Ameria’s importance in dispelling the fears of Diaspora, saying: “Ameria has done a phenomenal job in making their presence known here in the US, especially to the diaspora Armenians. One of the most important things is to reduce the unknown and the anxiety of anybody who’s looking to invest in the motherland. Ameria has come forward and given people the channel to be able to ask questions, inquire about the facilities available that make investment a possibility in Armenia, with the help of investment advisors or the legal department.”
Armenian Bar Association Chairman Garo Ghazarian said having a company such as Ameria in the Diaspora is both needed and important: “Ameria has stepped forward with a much needed initiative for the Diaspora. Having a presence in Los Angeles and bridging the Diaspora to Armenian’s investment opportunities by providing comprehensive services will certainly will entice more investments into the country. In fact, we have been waiting for a resource like Ameria that can provide everything one needs to know when making investment related decisions in motherland Armenia.”
Ameria Group of Companies in Armenia has been expanding dynamically within and beyond the borders of Armenia. The company has established a presence in the United States since September 2011 through Ameria Group Inc. The inaugural reception of Ameria Group Inc. in America was attended by Armenia’s President Serge Sargsyan and the American-Armenian business community.
Manoukian urged the attendants to invest in Armenia with the help of professionals in order to mitigate the risks and ensure possible success for investment and business transactions, as modeled by Ameria in Armenia: “Ameria itself is a great example of successful partnership between successful Diaspora Armenian and local businessmen from Armenia, leading to high return on investment in Armenia’s emerging market. With an initial investment of only 100, 000 USD, Ameria has grown into a group of companies that presently has more than 500 million dollars in assets, branches across the country and the largest advisory client portfolio in Armenia.”
In the past decade Ameria Group has attracted more than $ 500 million dollars in foreign funds and helped many businesses successfully grow in the emerging Armenian & Eastern European market. With an established network of trusted partnerships with reputable organizations such as USAID, World Bank, UNDP, Ameria has a proven record of success. 50 % of Armenia’s biggest taxpayers are Ameria’s clients, such as the SAS supermarket chain, Zangezour Copper-Molybdenum mining company. The largest and the most successful mergers and acquisition deals in Armenia’s commercial real estate & hospitality industry have been done with Ameria’s help; including the franchising & development of the first hotel representing the Intercontinental Group in the region, the development of the business plan for the world’s largest aerial tramway to Tatev Monastery and more.
Ameria Group’s LA office Public Relations Director Anush Hovsepyan highlighted Ameria’s leading position not only in business, but also in giving back to the community: “Not only has Ameria attracted multimillion dollars in foreign investments, needed to strengthen Armenia’s economy, but has been continuously contributing to various charity projects. This year, as a result Ameria Group’s 3rd annual live charity art auction, overall $ 200, 000 will be allocated toward the treatment of Armenia’s children with cancer. Ameria Group’s LA office is also pleased to join the cause with an auction of an art piece, generously donated by talented Vahe Berberian.”
The signature for Ameria Group Inc. in America has been the apricot (the Armenian apple) surrounded with apples, to symbolize that Ameria Group is in America among many world-class advisory institutions to serve to more than one million Armenian-Americans as a bridge connecting the Diaspora to promising business & investment opportunities in Armenia. Ameria is a unique partnership of the Diaspora & Armenian Entrepreneurs. Prominent investment banker Ruben Vardanyan, listed in Fortune Magazine’s “25 Rising Stars”, is the chair of Ameria’s board. The CEO of a multi-million dollar company Flagship Ventures and MIT professor, Noubar Afeyan is also Ameria’s founding board member. Ameria is also a winner of multiple global financial awards, such as Euromoney and the Banker. It is the only financial institution in the South Caucasus region recognized as a Global Growth Champion by the DAVOS World Economic Forum for its exceptional growth and expertise.
For additional information call: 818 646 1111.
