Updates
Press releases
09
03, 2011
President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement at the Armenian-Latvian Business Forum
Mr. President,
Distinguished Entrepreneurs and Guests,
I would like to once again thank you for the warm hospitality extended to our delegation on the Latvian land. I salute the organizers and participants of the Armenian-Latvian Business Forum and wish you mutually beneficial and productive work.
Armenia and Latvia have been friends for a long time and have been maintaining a high level political dialogue and mutual trust since independence and this an important guarantee for the development of economic relations.
Organization of business forums in the framework of presidential visits has become a tradition and it’s the best way for the enhancement of economic relations: it allows the businessmen to familiarize with the partner country’s economy, business environment, investment opportunities and establish working ties in different areas. I assess it as a very positive experience but, undoubtedly, would like to see more tangible results.
After the business forum conducted in Yerevan in 2005, the subsidiary of the Latvian-Icelandic Norvik Banka JSC was opened in Armenia in 2006, and after the business forum held in 2009 the turnover between the two state showed considerable increase. While these are very positive dynamics, I should also state that unfortunately we are not utilizing our entire potential.
Even considering the problems and heavy blows dealt by the global financial and economic crisis, I am still certain that we have great potential but use only a small part of it.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Latvia is a member to the European Union, and EU, as you know, is Armenia’s main trading partner. In this context, I attach great importance to our enhanced cooperation in the European structures. Consistent reforms conducted in Armenia, make our country’s comprehensive integration into the European family an imperative. With this regard, Latvian experience of generalization of the reforms in the economic and other areas and attainment of the European standards obtain great importance for Armenia.
I am hopeful that this event will provide a good opportunity to discuss and ultimately reach efficient agreements for the establishment and deepening of business ties, turning them subsequently into a productive and mutually beneficial cooperation.
I would like to particularly emphasize the areas of tourism and information technologies since these two areas possess great potential for the expansion of economic cooperation. In addition, we can look into the areas of agriculture and food production, especially with the view of experience sharing, investments and creation of joint ventures by the enterprises engaged in the production of ecologically clean produce.
Over all, our two countries have a pretty developed legal field. During the Latvian President’s visit to Armenia signed were agreements on air communication, which laid the base for Yerevan-Riga regular flights. In turn, this can serve as the best incentive for the development and boosting tourism in our two countries.
Agreements on economic, scientific and technical cooperation, also signed during the Latvian President’s visit to Armenia, further encouraged economic relations between Armenia and Latvia. And I believe that the time has come to create an Armenian-Latvia intergovernmental commission which will allow to realize a more structured implementation of our economic agenda. Today, the idea has been approved by the President of Latvia and most probably, tomorrow we will discuss the issue with the Prime Minister of Latvia in order to put it in a more concrete shape.
Meetings and contacts such as this one, create a strong basis for and steer the future trade and economic cooperation, providing new opportunities and discovering new areas for cooperation.
I am confident that the Business Forum held in 2011, that is today, will be a success and during our next meeting we, together with the President of Latvia will be able to register concrete results.
In conclusion, I would like to wish you all the best, and new achievements for the benefit of our two countries and our two peoples.
Distinguished Entrepreneurs and Guests,
I would like to once again thank you for the warm hospitality extended to our delegation on the Latvian land. I salute the organizers and participants of the Armenian-Latvian Business Forum and wish you mutually beneficial and productive work.
Armenia and Latvia have been friends for a long time and have been maintaining a high level political dialogue and mutual trust since independence and this an important guarantee for the development of economic relations.
Organization of business forums in the framework of presidential visits has become a tradition and it’s the best way for the enhancement of economic relations: it allows the businessmen to familiarize with the partner country’s economy, business environment, investment opportunities and establish working ties in different areas. I assess it as a very positive experience but, undoubtedly, would like to see more tangible results.
After the business forum conducted in Yerevan in 2005, the subsidiary of the Latvian-Icelandic Norvik Banka JSC was opened in Armenia in 2006, and after the business forum held in 2009 the turnover between the two state showed considerable increase. While these are very positive dynamics, I should also state that unfortunately we are not utilizing our entire potential.
Even considering the problems and heavy blows dealt by the global financial and economic crisis, I am still certain that we have great potential but use only a small part of it.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Latvia is a member to the European Union, and EU, as you know, is Armenia’s main trading partner. In this context, I attach great importance to our enhanced cooperation in the European structures. Consistent reforms conducted in Armenia, make our country’s comprehensive integration into the European family an imperative. With this regard, Latvian experience of generalization of the reforms in the economic and other areas and attainment of the European standards obtain great importance for Armenia.
I am hopeful that this event will provide a good opportunity to discuss and ultimately reach efficient agreements for the establishment and deepening of business ties, turning them subsequently into a productive and mutually beneficial cooperation.
I would like to particularly emphasize the areas of tourism and information technologies since these two areas possess great potential for the expansion of economic cooperation. In addition, we can look into the areas of agriculture and food production, especially with the view of experience sharing, investments and creation of joint ventures by the enterprises engaged in the production of ecologically clean produce.
Over all, our two countries have a pretty developed legal field. During the Latvian President’s visit to Armenia signed were agreements on air communication, which laid the base for Yerevan-Riga regular flights. In turn, this can serve as the best incentive for the development and boosting tourism in our two countries.
Agreements on economic, scientific and technical cooperation, also signed during the Latvian President’s visit to Armenia, further encouraged economic relations between Armenia and Latvia. And I believe that the time has come to create an Armenian-Latvia intergovernmental commission which will allow to realize a more structured implementation of our economic agenda. Today, the idea has been approved by the President of Latvia and most probably, tomorrow we will discuss the issue with the Prime Minister of Latvia in order to put it in a more concrete shape.
Meetings and contacts such as this one, create a strong basis for and steer the future trade and economic cooperation, providing new opportunities and discovering new areas for cooperation.
I am confident that the Business Forum held in 2011, that is today, will be a success and during our next meeting we, together with the President of Latvia will be able to register concrete results.
In conclusion, I would like to wish you all the best, and new achievements for the benefit of our two countries and our two peoples.