Updates
Press releases
13
12, 2011
In Rome President Serzh Sargsyan met with the representatives of the business community of the country
President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in Italy on a working visit, last night met with the representatives of the business community of the country.
***
Statement by President Serzh Sargsyan at the meeting with the representatives of the Italian business community
Distinguished Businessmen,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I cordially greet you and initiators of this important initiative. Ages-long Armenian-Italian friendship is anchored in the spiritual and cultural commonalities of our two nations. The geographical position has never been an impediment for the incessant deepening of our friendship which was formed centuries ago.
In the area of trade and economy too, our cooperation has deep historical roots. In Italy, first references related to the Armenian merchants date back to the 6th century. In 12-14 centuries, Cilician Armenia and various Italian cities – Genoa, Venice, Pisa, Florence, established closed trade relations. Some of these cities even had their consulates in Cilicia.
Imagine this: Cilicia granted free trade and other privileges to the merchants of Genoa back in 1201, and hundred years later same privileges were granted to the merchants of Florence. Today, we actually negotiate with the European Union over having free trade with Italy, returning thus to the point where we had been 800 years ago.
After the fall of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, close Armenian-Italian trade relations had been maintained: Armenians began to make their contribution to the economic development of the Italian cities, promoting profitable trade among the Black Sea region states. I would like to invite your attention to the fact that even in the absence of statehood our nations managed to deepen economic relations. Hence, today, when we, Armenians, have reestablished our statehood, there is every reason to develop and deepen our trade and economic relations. Today, our trade relations does not properly reflect the level of our political relations. We should work toward bringing our economic relation in line with our current political relations and today’s meeting is a step in that direction.
A number of basic documents, which regulate the trade and economic area of our relations, have created a good base for the development of the Armenian-Italian cooperation. The overall turnover between Armenia and Italy in nine months of 2011 has increased compared to the same period of time last year by 50 percent, however it reached only 130 millions. Of course, fifty percent sounds fine but the absolute number is very small and cannot satisfy us.
Italian capital is present particularly in Armenia’s construction, hotels and light industries. Success in these areas is evident and, I believe, the Italian businessmen feel comfortable in our country. However, I would like to note that the amount of the Italian investments in negligible: it is two times less than the investments from Cyprus, three times less than the investments from the Netherlands, six times less than German investments, eight times less that Greek and twelve times less than French investments. And if your European partners have been able to establish useful links in Armenia, I am confident, that the Italian entrepreneurs can do it too, probably with a greater success. Nowadays, we are implementing huge programs in infrastructure and energy sectors. We are building the North-South highway which will connect the Black Sea ports with the ports at the Persian Gulf. Construction of the North-South railroad is also under consideration. Works for the construction of a new unit of the Armenian nuclear power station, which will further strengthen Armenia’s position on the regional energy market, are also under consideration. Our Russian and French partners have already expressed desire to participate in these programs. Naturally, I urge Italian businessmen to cooperate with us actively in these areas. I also invite your attention to the cooperation opportunities opening with the establishment in Armenia of Free Economic Zones. Other areas of interest for the Italian business can be woodworking industry and furniture production, jewelry, agriculture, processing and preserving of agricultural products, etc. I believe tourism too can become a very promising area.
I would like to mention yet another area of cooperation. Small and medium enterprises constitute the backbone of the Italian economy which can be the best example for Armenia. We are particularly interested in cooperating with Italy in that area, as well as to study Italian experience taking into consideration similar temperament and mentality of our peoples, especially their pronounced predisposition for family business. I trust, we will have an opportunity to speak at greater length about economic reforms in Armenia. However I would like to note that the current macroeconomic situation in Armenia is assessed as stable, financial and monetary situation is steady, while reforms implemented in different areas are meant to constantly raise investment attractiveness as well as to ensure a free and secure business environment.
The inauguration of the Eastern Partnership has elevated Armenia-EU relations to a qualitatively new level. It will open new and serious prospects for the Armenian-Italian cooperation too. Negotiations are underway on the Armenia-EU Association agreement and soon negotiations on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Zone will also kick off. After the conclusion of the negotiations and signing of the documents, Armenia will have a system of the utmost integrated and liberal economic relations with EU. Today Armenia already utilizes the Generalized System of Preferences Plus regime. It is granted to a very limited number of countries and proves that Armenia has a good system of governance and creates a considerably privileged regime of trade between the Republic of Armenia and EU member states. We are also going to sign an agreement on the liberalization of the visa regime. Besides, we are envisaging large-scale reforms with the financial and expert assistance of the European structures in the tax and customs area, judicial system, simplification of business procedures which will considerably facilitate your business opportunities in Armenia. We are ready to discuss the issue of privileges not only at the executive but also at the legislative level.
Allow me to once again welcome the participants of this meeting, thank you for your time and express hope that during our next meeting we will register some tangible results.
Thank you.
***
Statement by President Serzh Sargsyan at the meeting with the representatives of the Italian business community
Distinguished Businessmen,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I cordially greet you and initiators of this important initiative. Ages-long Armenian-Italian friendship is anchored in the spiritual and cultural commonalities of our two nations. The geographical position has never been an impediment for the incessant deepening of our friendship which was formed centuries ago.
In the area of trade and economy too, our cooperation has deep historical roots. In Italy, first references related to the Armenian merchants date back to the 6th century. In 12-14 centuries, Cilician Armenia and various Italian cities – Genoa, Venice, Pisa, Florence, established closed trade relations. Some of these cities even had their consulates in Cilicia.
Imagine this: Cilicia granted free trade and other privileges to the merchants of Genoa back in 1201, and hundred years later same privileges were granted to the merchants of Florence. Today, we actually negotiate with the European Union over having free trade with Italy, returning thus to the point where we had been 800 years ago.
After the fall of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, close Armenian-Italian trade relations had been maintained: Armenians began to make their contribution to the economic development of the Italian cities, promoting profitable trade among the Black Sea region states. I would like to invite your attention to the fact that even in the absence of statehood our nations managed to deepen economic relations. Hence, today, when we, Armenians, have reestablished our statehood, there is every reason to develop and deepen our trade and economic relations. Today, our trade relations does not properly reflect the level of our political relations. We should work toward bringing our economic relation in line with our current political relations and today’s meeting is a step in that direction.
A number of basic documents, which regulate the trade and economic area of our relations, have created a good base for the development of the Armenian-Italian cooperation. The overall turnover between Armenia and Italy in nine months of 2011 has increased compared to the same period of time last year by 50 percent, however it reached only 130 millions. Of course, fifty percent sounds fine but the absolute number is very small and cannot satisfy us.
Italian capital is present particularly in Armenia’s construction, hotels and light industries. Success in these areas is evident and, I believe, the Italian businessmen feel comfortable in our country. However, I would like to note that the amount of the Italian investments in negligible: it is two times less than the investments from Cyprus, three times less than the investments from the Netherlands, six times less than German investments, eight times less that Greek and twelve times less than French investments. And if your European partners have been able to establish useful links in Armenia, I am confident, that the Italian entrepreneurs can do it too, probably with a greater success. Nowadays, we are implementing huge programs in infrastructure and energy sectors. We are building the North-South highway which will connect the Black Sea ports with the ports at the Persian Gulf. Construction of the North-South railroad is also under consideration. Works for the construction of a new unit of the Armenian nuclear power station, which will further strengthen Armenia’s position on the regional energy market, are also under consideration. Our Russian and French partners have already expressed desire to participate in these programs. Naturally, I urge Italian businessmen to cooperate with us actively in these areas. I also invite your attention to the cooperation opportunities opening with the establishment in Armenia of Free Economic Zones. Other areas of interest for the Italian business can be woodworking industry and furniture production, jewelry, agriculture, processing and preserving of agricultural products, etc. I believe tourism too can become a very promising area.
I would like to mention yet another area of cooperation. Small and medium enterprises constitute the backbone of the Italian economy which can be the best example for Armenia. We are particularly interested in cooperating with Italy in that area, as well as to study Italian experience taking into consideration similar temperament and mentality of our peoples, especially their pronounced predisposition for family business. I trust, we will have an opportunity to speak at greater length about economic reforms in Armenia. However I would like to note that the current macroeconomic situation in Armenia is assessed as stable, financial and monetary situation is steady, while reforms implemented in different areas are meant to constantly raise investment attractiveness as well as to ensure a free and secure business environment.
The inauguration of the Eastern Partnership has elevated Armenia-EU relations to a qualitatively new level. It will open new and serious prospects for the Armenian-Italian cooperation too. Negotiations are underway on the Armenia-EU Association agreement and soon negotiations on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Zone will also kick off. After the conclusion of the negotiations and signing of the documents, Armenia will have a system of the utmost integrated and liberal economic relations with EU. Today Armenia already utilizes the Generalized System of Preferences Plus regime. It is granted to a very limited number of countries and proves that Armenia has a good system of governance and creates a considerably privileged regime of trade between the Republic of Armenia and EU member states. We are also going to sign an agreement on the liberalization of the visa regime. Besides, we are envisaging large-scale reforms with the financial and expert assistance of the European structures in the tax and customs area, judicial system, simplification of business procedures which will considerably facilitate your business opportunities in Armenia. We are ready to discuss the issue of privileges not only at the executive but also at the legislative level.
Allow me to once again welcome the participants of this meeting, thank you for your time and express hope that during our next meeting we will register some tangible results.
Thank you.