ARMENIA MUST FOCUS ATTENTION ON COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES AMID CRISIS

ARKA
March 21, 2009

TSAKHKADZOR, March 21. /ARKA/. Amid the global crisis Armenia must
focus its attention on the sectors that are long-term competitive
advantages, Andre Antonyan, member of the Board of Directors, McKinsey
& Company consultancy, told reporters.

It is important to differentiate the sectors the country will have
long-term advantages in, Antonyan stated at a meeting of the National
Competitiveness Council in Tsakhkadzor.

He pointed out that the crisis affords opportunities for developing
particular sectors and for thinking of the most favorable correlation
between the Armenian economic sectors.

Among the important sectors are information technologies, tourism
and diamond cutting.

"Some industries are prerequisites for the general efficient economic
activities. They are the banking system, health care and education,"
Antonyan said.

He also said that RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan presented the
Government’s anti-ctisis program to the participants.

"We have a general idea of the program and arranged to thoroughly
study the document after the meeting," Antonyan said. He added that the
program provides for typical measures implemented by any Government.

The most important that is that the program be realized. Creative
approaches are well developed in Armenia, but must be transformed
into actions, Antonyan said.