ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
57/5 Arshakunyats Street
Yerevan, Armenia 375026
Contact: Bella Avetisyan
Telephone: (374 1) 44-74-01

Press Release For Immediate Distribution:
2004-11-09

NOUBARASHEN SCHOOL #11 RECEIVED ORCHARD FROM HSBC BANK
AND ‘ARMENIA TREE PROJECT’

YEREVAN– Sunday, November 7, 2004, the children of
the Noubarashen School #11 for the mentally disabled
yesterday beautified their school grounds with the
help of their friends from HSBC bank and the Armenia
Tree Project. The tree planting was initiated by HSBC
Bank as a part of their community outreach.
A total of one hundred trees, including 30 apricot, 30
apple, 20 peach, 15 cherry and 5 quince trees were
planted at the event, which started at 11 a.m. The
Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Science and
Education oversees the Noubarashen School #11, which
was established in 1973. Daily the school provides
education, accommodations and nutrition for 125
students, 110 of whom are permanent residents.

Over the past five years, HSBC and the Armenia Tree
Project have successfully collaborated on similar tree
planting projects. Together, they provided the
Noragyugh Rehabilitation Center with a total of four
hundred trees in 2000, 2001 and 2002 years. To date,
these seedlings are thriving, with an above average
survival rate of 72%. Since its first Armenian branch
opened in March of 1996, the HSBC group has shown
support for both education and the environment.
Sunday’s event at the Noubarashen School #11 served as
a true forum for the integration of these two ideals.

Susan Yacubian Klein, Country Director of Armenia Tree
Project, welcomed all who arrived that day and showed
their active participation by planting trees. In her
brief welcome speech Ms. Klein thanked HSBC Bank
management for their community minded spirit in
bringing their staff to plant trees with the residents
and teachers of Noubarashen School. She stressed that
both HSBC Bank and the Armenia Tree Project consider
as part of their missions active involvement with
community members in improving their environment.
The planting of the trees yesterday will not only
bring fruit for the children’s nutritional needs but
also serves as a teaching tool about care and
preservation of trees, she concluded.

Nick Gilmour, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Bank
Armenia, greeted guests and expressed hope for the
long lasting HSBC-ATP partnership. “I think our
collaboration in greening Yerevan’s different sites
will continue due to the already formed tradition of
our annual tree-plantings. Joining our forces we can
improve the living conditions in communities”, Mr.
Gilmour said in his later interview to reporters.
HSBC Bank Armenia is supporting Noubarashen School by
furnishing it and providing clothes and supplies to
schoolchildren.

Meroujan Yengibaryan, Noubarashen Boarding School
Director, speaking to those assembled added:
“HSBC-ATP partnership resulted in this wonderful gift
for our school. We’re all looking forward to seeing
these children collecting fruit from their own garden
in 3 – 4 years’ time. Let God give long life to
witness future generations gathering fruit from the
trees planted today”.

After a ceremonial tree planting by the initiators of
the event, the children and staffs of the school, HSBC
and ATP joined in planting the fruit tree seedlings. A
total of 100 seedlings were planted, according to the
instructions given during a demonstration from the ATP
specialists.

HSBC Bank Armenia:

The HSBC Group opened for business in March 1996 as
Midland Bank cjsc and was renamed to HSBC Bank Armenia
cjsc in 1999, as a part of global re-branding
exercise. Nowadays HSBC has two full service branches
operating in Yerevan. Now HSBC is Armenia’s leading
bank by market share and profitability. The Group also
maintains branches in other CIS countries including
Russia and Kazakhstan. The bank offers a full range of
products and services to both commercial and personal
customers resident in Armenia and overseas. Since its
establishment, HSBC has focused its community support
on areas of education and theenvironment. The Bank has
been involved in sponsoring the Noubarashen orphanage,
Vardashen special educational centre, Armenian Society
for the preservation of Historical Monuments, Armenian
Philharmonic Orchestra, Isabel centre of the Talented
Children’s Concert, a Health walk in coordination with
the Armenian Mammography centre, the children’s
international play ground, as well as a tree planting
project in the Children’s Rehabilitation Centre. HSBC
staff are true community citizens and give fully, and
freely, of their time and energy in supporting the
many worthwhile causes in Armenia that need our
support in both financial and humane ways.

For information please contact:

HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc
9 V. Sarkissian Street, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel. 58 70 88

HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc
3 Komitas Avenue, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel. 22 25 96, 22 87 57

e-mail: hsbc@arminco.com
web:

Armenia Tree Project (ATP):

Armenia Tree Project was founded in 1994 during
Armenia’s darkest and coldest years with the vision of
securing Armenia’s future by protecting Armenia’s
environment. Funded by contributions from diasporan
Armenians, ATP has by now planted and rejuvenated
538,000 trees at more than 450 sites ranging from
Gyumri to Goris.

For additional information, please, contact Bella
Avetisyan, ATP Public Outreach Coordinator Assistant
at trees@arminco.com
Web: