Senator Anthony Portantino (right) and Armenia's Diaspora Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan place the seal of the State of California on the wall
YEREVAN—Senator Anthony J. Portantino facilitated the California Trade Desk Seal Placement during a reception on Monday in Armenia’s capital. Senator Portantino formally introduced representatives from GO-Biz directly to business leaders at Impact Hub, which was followed by the California State Seal being officially mounted at Impact Hub.
“It was a great day to be in Yerevan and to have participated in moving forward with the new California Trade and Services Desk at Impact Hub,” stated Senator Portantino. “I am proud to have helped launch this innovative partnership and historic trade opportunity. I am incredibly grateful to Governor Newsom, Diaspora High Commissioner Sinanyan, Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis, and GO-Biz Director Dee Myers for their leadership and commitment to this important endeavor. It was an honor to introduce officials from GO-Biz to Armenian trade and business leaders. Economic cooperation between California and Armenia is vital and the trade desk will help improve current economic activity and generate more in the coming years.”
Senator Portantino leads the live virtual ceremony from Impact Hub Armenia in Yerevan
Senator Portantino was joined by Armenia’s Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan, High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan, Evan Reade from Office of California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Emily Desai and Jonathan Zeigler from Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom, Sara Anjargolian of Impact Hub and Raffi Kassarjian, CEO of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises.
“We are very excited to be hosting the California Trade and Services Desk at Impact Hub,” stated Sara Anjargolian, Co-Founder and Board Member of Impact Hub Yerevan. “There is so much in common between Armenia and California and with this opportunity we create even more positive outcomes for both economies.”
“We are proud to partner with the Impact Hub in Yerevan to host the California Trade Desk in Armenia,” stated Emily Desai, Deputy Director for International Affairs and Trade at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). “The Impact Hub’s mission to support and scale social innovation reflects California priorities of building an inclusive, sustainable economy for all. We look forward to our collaboration and building two-way trade and investment.”
Senator Anthony Portantino and Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan (center) with Impact Hub Armenia representatives
In 2019, Senator Portantino was on hand when Governor Newsom and Armenia’s Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Armenian Mission to the United Nations in New York City, formally establishing the first California Trade and Service Desk in Armenia. Prior to the signing of the agreement, he had introduced legislation to establish a California Trade Office in Armenia and joined the Governor for the historic signing of the MOU in the New York City.
The California Trade and Services Desk was established to strengthen the economic partnership between Armenian and California, support efforts for mutual economic benefit, and encourage trade and investment by California and Armenia businesses. Yerevan is the first California International Trade and Services Desk to be established by the Newsom administration. California is home to the largest Armenian American community in the United States.
In addition to representing a large and vibrant Armenian American community, Senator Portantino is the Chair of the Senate Select Committee on California, Armenia, Artsakh, and Mutual Trade, Art, and Cultural Exchange.