NKR PRESIDENT: NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC CREATING FAVORABLE BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT

ARKA
June 22, 2009

STEPANAKERT, June 22. /ARKA/. Karabakhi President Bako Sahakyan,
speaking at the "Bridge Artsakh" economic forum launched Saturday
in Stepanakert, said Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is creating favorable
business and investment environment.

He said the country is rich in natural resources and singled out
agriculture, mining industry, energy and tourism as most promising
areas.

"But our country’s greatest treasure is human resources, intellectual
capacity, people’s working ability, respect for the law and
self-improvement efforts", the president said. He thinks it is
difficult to outline development prospects amid the financial and
economic crisis.

"Difficult, but not impossible. More than that – development has no
alternative. We must solve old problems under new circumstances, but
a new estimation of capacity and specification of strategic focuses
is needed for that" Sahakyan said.

The head of state said that the economic forum gives an opportunity
for comprehensive discussion of a wide range of issues.

He expressed hope that new ideas and proposals would be voiced during
discussion at the forum.

"Your views on entrepreneurship are especially precious under current
circumstances. We attach especially great importance also to Artsakh
entrepreneurs and officials’ specialization in econom y sector",
he said.

The Karabakhi president expressed hope that this forum would become
another reliable bridge between Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and its
friends all over the world.