LOS ANGELES–An international conference on “Doing Business with Armenia”, organized by the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce was held between September 16-19, at the World Trade Center, Long Beach, California. Co-partners of the event were the US Department of Commerce and the Armenian Development Agency. Armenia’s official delegation was led by the Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan.
More than a 100 of California and Armenia businesses participated in the conference that primarily focused on Armenia’s tourism, banking and pharmaceutical industries.
In his keynote address Minister Nerses Yeritsyan presented Armenia’s economic development perspectives and investment opportunities.
Danica Starks, representative from the US Department of Commerce, spoke of the changes and reforms taking place in Armenia and stressed the importance of encouraging small and medium sized enterprises.
The conference then split into three separate panels, where representatives from the above mentioned industries introduced their business projects and trade opportunities.
Within the framework of his visit Minister Yeritsyan delivered a comprehensive presentation on Armenia’s economy, highlighting key priority sectors and projects and reforms implemented by the Government. Members of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, representatives of the Armenian community and the Consular Corps, city officials and businessmen were in attendance. Presentation was followed by the Q&A session.
During his meeting with the Los Angeles based Armenian Jewelers Association, the Minister discussed possible ways of strengthening Armenia’s domestic jewelry-related businesses. The Minister then visited the St. Vincent Jewelry Center and was introduced to their business initiatives.
As a part of his visit the Armenian Minister of Economy met with representatives of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Western region) and Ramgavar Azatakan Party (Western Region), as well as with the Lincy Foundation President J. Rakow and Vice-President Harout Sassounian. At those meetings an exchange of opinions took place concerning Armenia’s development, regional situation, and future assistance projects in Armenia.
The Minister of Economy attended a luncheon in his honour hosted by Archbishop Hovnan Terterian, the Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, and spoke about future projects envisaged by the Armenian Government.
The Minister of Economy also paid a visit to Archbishop Mushegh Martirosian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the House of Cilicia, where the two discussed issues relating to Armenia’s development and consolidation.
Yeritsian was interviewed by local media on a number of topics pertaining to social and economic development of Armenia.
