ENTREPRENEURS FROM ARMENIA AND ST. PETERSBURG GATHER IN YEREVAN FOR BUSINESS FORUM
ARKA
Dec 8, 2009
YEREVAN, December 8. /ARKA/. Entrepreneurs from Armenia and
St. Petersburg gathered Tuesday in Yerevan for a business forum held
by Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia.
Arsen Ghazaryan, chairman of the union, told journalists that Armenian
entrepreneurs meet with representatives of this Russian city from
time to time, but such a business forum was organized in Yerevan for
the first time.
"A big delegation of representatives of some economic sectors and
administration of St. Petersburg arrived in Yerevan today. I hope
we’ll find new partners at the forum and reach agreements with them
to make our economic ties closer amid the financial crisis."
The chairman of the union said that it was a right decision to meet in
the end of the year, since the forum participants outlined cooperation
prospects for the next year.
He said that representatives of textile and clothing industries,
communication and transport sectors, pharmaceutics and sports took
part in the forum. Natalya Lukichyova, chief of the St. Petersburg
municipality’s foreign relations division, said that Russia is
interested in cooperation with Armenian entrepreneurs.
She said that trade turnover between Armenia and St. Petersburg
reduced 13% in 2009and expressed hope that such meetings will spur
economic relations and have favorable impact on the trade turnover.
"Now Petersburg entrepreneurs are searching partners in Armenia’s
clothing industry and seeking cooperation with women entrepreneurs,"
Lukichyova said.
She said that St. Petersburg entrepreneurs are also interested in
cooperation in innovations area.
"St. Petersburg held an innovation week this year for the first time,"
she said. "We are going to invite representatives of Armenia the
next year."
Lukichyova said that a cluster policy of business development is now
being formed in St. Petersburg.
She said that participation of Armenian entrepreneurs in the cluster
policy development would be very desirable.