President took part in groundbreaking ceremony of new figure skating school and visited companies of Grand Holding

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan took part in the groundbreaking ceremony of a new figure skating school to be built in Yerevan’s Malatia-Sebastia administrative district. The thrice Olympic champion in figure skating, the multiple world and European champion, the Russian public figure and State Duma Deputy Irina Rodnina also participated in groundbreaking ceremony of the school to be built in the vicinity of the new velodrome. She has been directly engaged in the school establishment program and expressed readiness to promote the development of figure skating in Armenia after the school is put into operation. The school construction is financed by Chief Executive Officer of Monarch Group of Companies and the Armenian businessman Sergey Hambardzumyan who is going to donate the school to Yerevan. Head of that construction company Sergey Hambardzumyan was also present at the ceremony. Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan, Irina Rodnina and Sergey Hambardzumyan signed the trilateral memorandum announcing the construction of figure skating school and one copy of the memorandum was laid in the foundation of the school. The total construction value is close to 5 million US dollars. It is to start in June and according to the executives, will be finished in a short space of time – in 2015. The school will have a skating-rink with 500 seats and auxiliary buildings.

Later on, the President of Armenia visited Grand Tobacco and Grand Candy companies which make part of Grand Holding. The president toured the workshops, familiarized with the investments made by the company being considered as one of the leading native manufacturers, as well as with its recent years’ works aimed at putting new modern workshops in action and increasing the factory’s production potential. Serzh Sargsyan was told that the companies making part of Grand Holding keep on successfully implementing all the programs and abide by Hrant Vardanyan’s business traditions. This is proved by the economic indicators of the first five months of this year. The executives assured that they plan to maintain the same growth rates throughout the whole year. The acquisition of new production lines by Grand Tobacco during 2014 will lead to the creation of 100-130 new jobs. At the other company of Grand Holding, Grand Candy, the President of Armenia was informed that the number of the company’s 410 types of products will increase at least by 15. Currently, Grand Candy employs 3100 workers whose number is going to increase by 150 by the end of this year. All in all, Grand Holding employs around 6500 people.

At the end of the tour, Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with the leadership of Grand Holding. The president welcomed the steps being taken to promote the company and wished Grand Holding further successes.