SACRAMENTO—State Senator Anthony J. Portantino personally delivered an invitation from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Governor Gavin Newsom inviting the Governor to visit Armenia.

In September, Governor Newsom and Prime Minister Pashinyan met in New York to formalize the historic trade Memorandum of Understanding between California and Armenia. At the meeting they appeared to develop a positive relationship with each other. Glendale based Consul General Armen Baibortian recognized the strong relationship Portantino has engendered both in Yerevan and in Sacramento and asked Portantino to personally deliver the Prime Minister‘s invitation to the Governor.

The Prime Minister’s invitation follows up on the successful meeting between the two leaders. Portantino accompanied the Governor and the Prime Minister to New York for the event. Included in the comprehensive MOU is the formal establishment of the California International Trade Desk in Yerevan. The Trade Desk was a proposal championed by Senator Portantino. Following the signing of the MOU, Portantino and Governor Newsom met privately with Prime Minister Pashinyan to discuss increased cooperation between California and Armenia.

The productive establishment of the Trade Desk was the result of a year-long effort by Portantino to formalize trade relations between California and Armenia. The fact that Yerevan is the first California International Trade Desk to be established is recognition of the impact of the Velvet Revolution, the importance of the California/Armenia relationship and the significant presence Diaspora Armenians have in California.

“It was a tremendous honor to have had the opportunity to deliver a personal invitation from Prime Minister Pashinyan to Governor Newsom. I was pleased to have first met the Prime Minister in Yerevan last year, in Los Angeles and again in New York. Watching and listening to the genuine, warm conversation between the Governor and the Prime Minister has been one of the highlights of my time in office. Having a front row seat for these important economic and historic events is a privilege. I am very grateful to Governor Newsom for his commitment to strengthening our ties with Armenia and I hope he will one day take up the offer to visit Armenia in person like I have,” commented Senator Portantino.

In addition to representing a large and vibrant Armenian American Community, Senator Portantino is the Chair of the State Senate Select Committee on California Armenia Artsakh Art, Trade and Cultural Exchange. He has long-standing positive ties to the Armenian Community. The Governor has also enjoyed a very positive relationship with the Armenian Community dating back to his time as Mayor of San Francisco and the Senator looks forward to continued work to strengthen the special relationship that California and Armenia share.

“California and Armenia have so much in common and we should be doing everything we can to foster this connection. The Governor has a long and positive relationship with the Armenian American Community and his efforts to negotiate the MOU are to be commended. I was very honored that the Consul General asked me to deliver the invitation,” concluded Senator Portantino.