The Government of the Republic of Armenia

Dear Guests and Participants,

I am welcoming this initiative by the Worldwide Armenian Congress - an event, which aims at carrying on the process of hosting Pan-Armenian events underway in Armenia for a few years now. We deem this forum to be an integral part of Pan-Armenian events and, quite naturally, do hope it will be of valuable contribution to the achievement of our shared goals. The Armenian economy, which was liberalized in accordance with international standards, as well as the required legal framework and investment-friendly environment are conducive to the implementation of business programs and the attraction of further investment. As regards the availability of geopolitical impediments of objective and subjective character to the development of our economy, they are temporary ones and with due will and desire we will succeed in overcoming them as it has been the case to date. All of us in the Homeland, in Artsakh and the Diaspora have the same objective: mobilisation of the efforts with the view of building a powerful statehood strong with sound economy. This process was preceded by a number of events: a series of Pan-Armenian economic fora were organized in Armenia, business associations are being set up. Armenian-Russian and Armenian-Georgian business associations have already been made operational. We look upon all these associations, unions and initiatives as complementing rather than opposing each other so as to create such environment as will enable them to make full use of the existing possibilities to the benefit of our country.

This forum has the distinguishing feature of bringing together not only Armenian entrepreneurs from the Homeland and the Diaspora, but also oustanding businessmen from other countries, and this will allow the forum, beyond mobilising the efforts and potentialities of Diaspora business circles, to engage the existing human capacity in such processes as are necessary for the subsequent development and strengthening of our economy by familiarizing them with the situation in Armenia and the trends of economic development. Just try tu use the potentialities stemming from mutually beneficial business partnership with foreign entrepreneurs rather than to agree upon the implementation of charitable and humanitarian projects. In other words, we are suggesting that both the Armenian and foreign entrepreneurs should employ joint efforts to address issues of reciprocal interest.

I would like to hereby wish you every success in forum proceedings. I am hopeful that all the targets set by those who have organized this event will be reached.