Calif. Armenian Business Leaders Explore Investment Opportunities in Artsakh

STEPANAKERT (Aparaj.am)–A group of Armenian business leaders from California visited Artsakh on Wednesday to explore investment opportunities there and meet with key officials to advance that process. The delegation was led by Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee Chairman Dr. Viken Hovsepian.

The delegation met with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian, who emphasized the important role the Diaspora has played in the advancement of Artsakh’s statehood and spoke of opportunities for investment in the country.

He also highlighted the role Diaspora businesspeople can play in advancing and modernizing the business sector in Artsakh and the need for the creation of jobs through such invenstments.

The delegation also met with Deputy Prime Minister and a member of the ARF Central Committee of Artsakh Arthur Aghabegyan, who was accompanied by Artsakh Deputy Finance Minister Grigor Martirosyan, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Tourism and Historical Monuments board chairman Sergey Shahverdian and ARF Artsakh Central Committee chairman Davit Ishkhanian.

During the meeting, Aghabegyan detailed Artsakh’s economic structure and opportunities to develop Artsakh’s economy in various areas, and presented programs currently underway.

He also highlighted the important role Diaspora business investments can play in the advancement of the country’s economy, assuring the participants that Artsakh can be a profitable place for business investment due to the beneficial business climate.

Members of the delegation inquired about the consume market in Artsakh and efforts to enhance that potential, as well as the impact Armenia’s anticipated membership in the Eurasian Economic Union will have on the Artsakh economy.

Aghabegyan told the delegation that Artsakh agricultural sector provides myriad opportunities for production of goods, which in turn can develop the consume market, the advancement of which would entail the participation of the Diaspora.

He also explained that since Armenia and Artsakh are in a common economic zone, membership in the EEU would not alter or change the economic structure of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.