Armenia Expects German Investments And Their Diversification Degree

ARMENIA EXPECTS GERMAN INVESTMENTS AND THEIR DIVERSIFICATION DEGREE TO INCREASE

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 9 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. During the Armenian-German business
forum on October 9, Armenian Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Tigran Davtian expressed a hope that the event will promote
the cooperation between the sides and increase the diversification
of investments made by German companies.

According to him, 61 companies with German capital are currently
operating in Armenia. Their investments have totalled 130 million
dollars, with a large share of these invsetments being made by
the German company Chronimet in the Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum
Enterprise.

T. Davtian attached special importance to the strengthening of business
links with Germany from the viewpoint that the European Union has
become number one trade partner of Armenia, while Germany is the
largest economy in Europe. He expressed a hope that German companies
will show interest in Armenia not only as a country to sell their
production in but also in terms of conducting joint activities with
Armenian companies and selling their products in Germany.

The German Ambassador to Armenia Heike Renate Peitsch said that the
purpose of the German delegation composed of representatives of state
bodies and 17 companies is to identify business opportunities in
Armenia. She expressed a hope that the forum will allow to establsih
new business links and increase the amount of invsetments by German
companies in Armenia. The ambassador noted that Germany is the second
largest donor – country in terms of technical assistance provided.

Advisor to the German Ministry of Economy and Technologies for
Cooperation with CIS States Peter Lorenz stated his satisfaction at
such achievements of Armenia, as the economic growth, economic and
political reforms and the fight against corruption underway in the
country. He said with confidence that solutions will be found to the
current problems in the South Caucasian region and the Armenian-German
economic cooperation will become more efficient. The German official
conveyed a hope that German companies will continue processing raw
materials of the Armenian mining industry. In his words, the forum
participants will discuss measures to ensure that this sector’s
development would have a positive effect on other spheres of the
Armenian economy.