NEW MILK-COLLECTION CENTER

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13:09:04 – 12/10/2009

Yerevan, October 12, 2009 – The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund is
currently building a milk-collection center in Armenia’s Tavush Region,
aiming to significantly boost the local dairy industry. The facility,
which will be established in the village of Azatamut, is intended to
service seven neighboring communities as well, including Khashtarak,
Lusahovit, Lusadzor, Ditavan, Aknaghbyur, Aygehovit, and Achajur. The
project is sponsored by the Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region, with
funding from the Armenian community of San Francisco.

The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Ashtarak
Milk company, which will assist local milk producers in the collection,
storage, and distribution of their products. The Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund will provide all necessary equipment for the milk-collection
center as well as a truck for the collection process. In addition,
the fund will give local producers technical assistance to improve
animal-husbandry practices and enhance livestock quality. The project
will result in a highly streamlined and efficient manufacturing and
distribution system as well as superior product quality.

"Our goal is to lend a helping hand to the villagers by enabling them
to sell their products and secure revenues," said Ara Vardanyan,
executive director of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. "No less
important is the fact that close to ten jobs will be created through
the creation of the milk-collection center. We have every reason
to believe that this project will be a great success, especially
given our collaboration with an experienced and dedicated partner,
the Ashtarak Milk company."

Commenting on the urgency of the project, Azatamut mayor Zhora
Martirosyan said that currently crop growers and animal farmers in
Tavush barely make ends meet since they lack proper mechanisms to
sell their products outside their communities. "The existence of a
milk-collection center will go a long way in improving the lives of
our residents," Martirosyan added.