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01
07, 2011
President Serzh Sargsyan participated at the opening of the Armenian-Ukrainian Business Forum
Today, President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in Ukraine of official visit, together with President Victor Yanukovich participated at the opening of the Armenian-Ukrainian Business Forum at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine.
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Opening Remarks by President Serzh Sargsyan at the Armenian-Ukrainian Business Forum
Mr. President,
Distinguished representatives of the business communities of Armenia and Ukraine,
I am glad that after the session of the Armenian-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, which concluded its works yesterday, today such a representative Business Forum is taking place.
The very fact that the Forum has drawn so many participants demonstrates that the Armenian-Ukrainian cooperation has great potential and that there is a mutual interest in the utilization of that potential. I believe that fact holds special meaning.
Today, with President Yanukovich we have had a thorough exchange on the steps aimed at the mitigation of the consequences of the global crisis, which, unfortunately, has had its impact on our bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Nowadays, Ukraine is Armenia’s 6th trade partner, even though it should be noted that before 2008 it was on the third place. Among our CIS partners, Ukraine remains on the second place. There have been good tendencies this year: the turnover is increasing. Although, we have not yet been able to restore the 2008 level of our trade, such positive developments allow us move forward more dynamically.
However, we still have things to ponder about: it relates to our trade balance – exports from Armenia to Ukraine are negligible, and we also need to consider the diversification of the trade.
I believe that we need to deep our cooperation in the areas such as innovations, energy, telecommunications, and information technologies; I am also confident that much can be done in the area of processing agricultural goods.
Special attention should be paid to the parity of the transportation and transit rates. The rates which are being used today for ferry transportation considerably restrict the opportunities of the Armenian as well as Ukrainian producers and exporters. I am certain that we can solve this issue fast, on a mutually beneficial basis since it is very important for our trade and economic relations. I am sure that by reducing excesses and in many cases also transportation expenses, which are not appealing to the businesses, it will be possible to engage more companies into the implementation of joint investment projects. Obviously, neither the amount of the Ukrainian investments in the economy of Armenia (4,6mln USD) nor the joint ventures with the Ukrainian capital registered in Armenia – only 85 of them – can satisfy the Armenian or Ukrainian side. Moreover, these numbers do not correspond to the opportunities and potential of today’s cooperation.
Currently, Armenia has already established one of the most liberal economic regimes in the CIS area. We have all mechanisms in place to ensure the protection of the rights of the investors and creation of equal and competitive environment for their work. Armenia is working closely with the European Union for the harmonization of its legislation. At the moment, the issue of granting Armenia the status of a market economy is being discussed, and we are concluding works on the Association Agreement. Very soon, we will launch negotiations with the EU on the Free Trade Agreement. I am telling all this having in mind relations between the EU and Ukraine since the concurrence of our reformation vectors can become an additional guarantee for efficient contacts between our entrepreneurs.
I would like to stress once again that Armenia is open for mutually beneficial projects in any area. At the governmental level, we will do our best so that business has clear, transparent and comfortable working conditions.
This Business Forum should promote information exchange and direct contacts between our businesses. After all, business is mostly about trust, and trust can be gained only through direct and personal contacts.
I am hopeful that today’s event will be signified by new perspective projects. I wish you all great success and stronger cooperation between our two states for the benefit of our two peoples.
Mr. President and I know each other for a long time. President Yanukovich knows Armenia for many years, and as he said himself he has traveled all over Armenia, has been everywhere and with this regard any investment in Armenia as well as in Ukraine is 100 percent guaranteed.
I wish you success.
Thank you.
***
Opening Remarks by President Serzh Sargsyan at the Armenian-Ukrainian Business Forum
Mr. President,
Distinguished representatives of the business communities of Armenia and Ukraine,
I am glad that after the session of the Armenian-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, which concluded its works yesterday, today such a representative Business Forum is taking place.
The very fact that the Forum has drawn so many participants demonstrates that the Armenian-Ukrainian cooperation has great potential and that there is a mutual interest in the utilization of that potential. I believe that fact holds special meaning.
Today, with President Yanukovich we have had a thorough exchange on the steps aimed at the mitigation of the consequences of the global crisis, which, unfortunately, has had its impact on our bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Nowadays, Ukraine is Armenia’s 6th trade partner, even though it should be noted that before 2008 it was on the third place. Among our CIS partners, Ukraine remains on the second place. There have been good tendencies this year: the turnover is increasing. Although, we have not yet been able to restore the 2008 level of our trade, such positive developments allow us move forward more dynamically.
However, we still have things to ponder about: it relates to our trade balance – exports from Armenia to Ukraine are negligible, and we also need to consider the diversification of the trade.
I believe that we need to deep our cooperation in the areas such as innovations, energy, telecommunications, and information technologies; I am also confident that much can be done in the area of processing agricultural goods.
Special attention should be paid to the parity of the transportation and transit rates. The rates which are being used today for ferry transportation considerably restrict the opportunities of the Armenian as well as Ukrainian producers and exporters. I am certain that we can solve this issue fast, on a mutually beneficial basis since it is very important for our trade and economic relations. I am sure that by reducing excesses and in many cases also transportation expenses, which are not appealing to the businesses, it will be possible to engage more companies into the implementation of joint investment projects. Obviously, neither the amount of the Ukrainian investments in the economy of Armenia (4,6mln USD) nor the joint ventures with the Ukrainian capital registered in Armenia – only 85 of them – can satisfy the Armenian or Ukrainian side. Moreover, these numbers do not correspond to the opportunities and potential of today’s cooperation.
Currently, Armenia has already established one of the most liberal economic regimes in the CIS area. We have all mechanisms in place to ensure the protection of the rights of the investors and creation of equal and competitive environment for their work. Armenia is working closely with the European Union for the harmonization of its legislation. At the moment, the issue of granting Armenia the status of a market economy is being discussed, and we are concluding works on the Association Agreement. Very soon, we will launch negotiations with the EU on the Free Trade Agreement. I am telling all this having in mind relations between the EU and Ukraine since the concurrence of our reformation vectors can become an additional guarantee for efficient contacts between our entrepreneurs.
I would like to stress once again that Armenia is open for mutually beneficial projects in any area. At the governmental level, we will do our best so that business has clear, transparent and comfortable working conditions.
This Business Forum should promote information exchange and direct contacts between our businesses. After all, business is mostly about trust, and trust can be gained only through direct and personal contacts.
I am hopeful that today’s event will be signified by new perspective projects. I wish you all great success and stronger cooperation between our two states for the benefit of our two peoples.
Mr. President and I know each other for a long time. President Yanukovich knows Armenia for many years, and as he said himself he has traveled all over Armenia, has been everywhere and with this regard any investment in Armenia as well as in Ukraine is 100 percent guaranteed.
I wish you success.
Thank you.