President Sarkissian met with the Secretary General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development: At the proposal of President Sarkissian, UNCTAD will prepare a report on Armenia's investment policies

President Armen Sarkissian, who is in Switzerland on a working visit, met with the Secretary General of UNCTAD Mukhisa Kituyi at the UN Headquarters in Geneva.

The Secretary General of the UNCTAD thanked the President of Armenia for accepting the offer and joining the discussion of the UNCTAD Panel of Eminent Persons. This group, which comprises 7 individuals, provides counsel to the Secretary General of UNCTAD on the critical current and urgent economic development challenges, generates ideas to overcome them through the international initiatives.

Noting that the Conference on Trade and Development is one of the UN's most important bodies, the President of Armenia hailed the activities of the structure. He also expressed gratitude to the Conference and personally Secretary General for initiating a complimentary report on Armenia’s investment policies. The proposal was made by President Armen Sarkissian and the relevant agreement was reached last year during their meeting in Geneva. The President of Armenia stressed the importance of preparing such a document from the viewpoint of attracting foreign investments. Armen Sarkissian expressed hope that the UNCTAD team’s recent visit to Armenia was useful for preparing the report which will be ready come October.

“For Armenia, now is the time of opportunities, and we need to continue to work really closely,” the President underscored and added that Armenia can do a lot, learn and invest through the cooperation with the Conference.

After the meeting, the Director of Investment and Enterprise at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development James Zhan said in particular that President Sarkissian’s proposal – in preparing Armenia related report to conduct the analysis on the framework of investment policies and institutional structure based on the existing global challenges and opportunities – is totally appropriate. “All these challenges have become the base for the rapid changes in the global political and economic geopolitics. In this context, not only Armenia but other countries, too, should review their development strategies, trade and investment policies. President Sarkissian presented his vision regarding Armenia’s development in the 21st century,” James Zhan said. “His progressive views are very useful for us, and we will take them into consideration for the development of Armenia’s investment policy guidelines. In coming months, we will be working hard to develop Armenia’s investment policy to meet President Sarkissian’s expectations. We will visit Armenia in September to report to him and the government on the recommendations and to work jointly to call them to life, based on our discussions and decisions.”