Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
ancawr@anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR Welcomes Passage of SB 515 by California Assembly Committee
— Passage Extends "Sunset" of the California Trade Office
Sacramento, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
(ANCA-WR) welcomed news of the passage of SB 515 through the California
Assembly Jobs and Economic Development Committee. The Assembly Committee
passed SB 515, which extends the "sunset" of funding for the California
Trade Office (CATO) by 2 years until 2010. The CATO, which opened under the
leadership of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and California Senator
Jack Scott (D-Pasadena), was administered to stimulate trade between
California and the regions of Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and the Newly
Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union.
Testimony in support of the CATO was provided by Johnny Nalbandian, CATO
Trade Specialist and the Executive Director of the Foundation for Economic
Development, Inc., which is the privately-funded sole contractor of the
CATO, and Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, Chairwoman of the Los Angeles –
Yerevan Sister City Association (LAYSCA).
During testimony, Nalbandian discussed the operation of the CATO going
forward, the 1500% increase in CATO’s website traffic in the past year
(), and the progress in working with companies such as
Marani Spirits which now distributes through chains like Safeway, Ralphs and
California Pizza Kitchen. Additionally, Nalbandian explained that the CATO
is working with California companies such as Hard Rock Café, Nic-Nak
Clothing, Coffee Bean and Tea, Mattel and a pharmaceutical company that is
exploring the feasibility of constructing a specialized facility in Armenia.
Nalbandian also informed the Assembly Committee of simultaneous Town Hall
meetings to be conducted in November in Los Angeles and Yerevan. These
meetings would provide an opportunity for local and regional businesses to
learn more about CATO’s work and outreach to promote economic growth between
California and the NIS. The Town Hall meetings will precede a Trade Expo
and Conference featuring companies from all over California and the NIS that
will take place in the spring of 2008. Finally, Nalbandian mentioned the
possibility of establishing, through an Armenian carrier, a direct flight
between Los Angeles and Yerevan which would offer exciting opportunities for
freight and passenger travel between the two cities.
Following Nalbandian, Zerounian-Khanzadian elaborated upon the relationship
between the LAYSCA and the CATO. Zerounian-Khanzadian stated that the
LAYSCA facilitates relationship building between Los Angeles and Yerevan
businesses and helps promote the goals of CATO. Furthermore, LAYSCA and
CATO will be working together on securing the direct Los Angeles – Yerevan
flight.
After testimony, the Committee passed SB 515 by a vote of 6-0.
"Passage of SB 515 through the Assembly’s Jobs and Economic Development
Committee signals another important milestone for California’s economy,"
commented ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian. "The CATO provides a
unique opportunity for California companies to discover and engage vast new
markets," he added.
The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.