ARMENIA TO DEVELOP MULTILATERAL RELATIONS WITH SWEDEN

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.04.2009 13:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received
a delegation headed by Sweden’s Secretary of State for Trade Gunnar
Wieslander, reported the press office of the RA government.

Appreciative of recently activated bilateral contacts, the Prime
Minister of Armenia expressed hope that this visit of the State
Secretary-led delegation will boost economic and political exchanges
between the two countries.

Mr. Sargsyan said to be informed on those cooperation-friendly meetings
and discussions the Swedish delegation has had with Armenian public
and private sector representatives under the visit program. The
Prime Minister underscored Armenia’s readiness to develop the
Armenian-Swedish interaction in both bilateral and EU-Armenia formats.

In presenting our country’s development possibilities and programs
amidst a quickly evolving world, the Prime Minister said to be
convinced that once supported by the European Union and other
partners, Armenia will be able to overcome not only those temporary
hardships coming from the global crisis, but also any eventual
long-term challenges ahead. In particular, the Prime Minister cited
Armenia’s adherence to the GSP+ system as of January 1, 2009 as a
landmark achievement in the history of EU-Armenia cooperation as this
implies considerably lower duties on EU-bound Armenian exports. In
this respect, the Prime Minister evoked his government’s drive for
ensuring that as many Armenian producers as possible might benefit
from this opportunity.

With reference to bilateral economic ties, PM Sargsyan highlighted the
ongoing cooperation with the OMX which as effective since January,
2008 when the OMX was entrusted with the management of Armenia’s
Stock Market and Central Depository is seen as the key to Armenia’s
aspiration for becoming a regional financial center. He voiced hope
that the successful record of a mutually beneficial cooperation
with the OMX will encourage other Swedish investors to invest in
our country.

Mr Wieslander said he is convinced that while developing successfully,
the Armenian-Swedish cooperation, both bilateral and in the EU-Armenia
format, offers far more development opportunities than what is used
currently. Welcoming the Armenian government’s growth-targeting
ambitious programs and undertakings, the Swedish State Secretary
assured of his country’s readiness to possibly assist Armenia with
its efforts.