KOCHARIAN’S MESSAGE: DISCUSSION OF THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE SPHERE OF FOREIGN TRADE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 28 2006

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. Discussion of the first international
experience in the sphere of foreign trade and financing, its
development and adaptation are of great importance for Armenia,
according to the welcoming message of the RA President Robert Kocharyan
to the participants of the first international bank conference on
financing of the foreign trade, which opened today in Yerevan.

Kocharyan’s message, presented by the Chairman of the CBA Tigran
Sargsyan, emphasizes that the foreign trade plays a stimulating role
in securing economic growth.

“Consequently steps and events taken in this direction, including
this conference, will contribute to the compatibility of the Armenian
business as well as activate export-import processes”, the message
states. Kocharyan also attached importance to establishment and
development of business relations between banks and enterprises of
Armenia and other countries.

“Taking into consideration the presented content of international
structures I hope that new business relations will be established
between Armenian and international organizations, Kocharyan stated.

The organizers of the conference are the EBRD and Armeconombank, and
“ARKA Armenian News Agency, “Armnews” TV-channel and “Republic of
Armenia” newspaper are among the media-sponsors of the conference.

Such issues as the role of banks and bank instruments in promotion of
international trade as well as cooperation of banks and exporters in
the sphere of trade financing in Armenia are intended to be discussed
during the conference. Issues of management of credit risks, payment
balance of Armenia, estimation of documentary operations’ risk and
development perspectives of the international trade in Armenia will be
touched upon during the conference as well. Three-year work experience
of the Armeconombank by the foreign trade promotion program, worked
out together with the EBRD, is going to be presented at the conference.

Representatives of the Deutsche Bank, ABN-Armo bank, Citibank,
Interstate Bank as well as the CBA, the RA Union of Manufacturers
and Entrepreneurs, large-scale international and local companies and
banks will take part in the conference, which will last till March 30.