Yerevan hosts Armenian-Greek business forum

An Armenian-Greek business forum opened in Yerevan today as part of the official visit of Greek President Karolos Papoulias to Armenia.

Chairman of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia Arsen Ghazaryan told journalists that businessmen of the two countries can cooperate in such spheres as agricultural produce processing, textile industry, etc. He stressed that thanks to cooperation with Armenia, Greece can also enter the Russian market.

Director of the Armenian Development Agency Robert Harutyunyan said for his part that Armenian and Greek entrepreneurs already held bilateral meetings today and there is hope for new initiatives.

In his words, representatives of 16 Greek companies came to Armenia. Their companies operate in various spheres such as IT sector, construction, real estate, telecommunications, metallurgy, agriculture, textile industry, medical travel, and tourism.

“The forum participants will get information about the investment climates of Armenia and Greece, the conditions of doing business there, and the opportunities of bilateral cooperation. We hope that the forum will help lay the foundation of new cooperation,” Robert Harutyunyan said adding that the Greek side may be offered to use the opportunity of free economic relations between Armenia, the Customs Union, and CIS countries.

As regards the commodity turnover, R. Harutyunyan said that last year it amounted to $22 million. Imports from Greece into Armenia account for most of the turnover of commodities, in particular the import of citruses, aluminum foil, cigars and cigarettes.