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MONTHLY â„–10 NEWSLETTER for a Better Business Environment
October 2019 AmCham is an independent business association operating in Armenia since 2000. AmCham represents the interests of 140+ member companies from almost all sectors of the economy. AmCham’s goal is to enhance the US-Armenia business relations and improve the business and investment climate in the country. The Chamber is pleased to have both local companies and companies from all over the world among its members. AmCham Armenia is a member of US Chamber of Commerce and European Council of American Chambers of Commerce.
CONTACT US 1 Amiryan St., Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan, 3rd floor, room 315, 317, Yerevan 0010, RA Email: info@amcham.am / events@amcham.am Tel: (+374 10) 599 902 (+374 55) 599 187 Visit our page: www.amcham.am
PUBLISHED AND DESIGNED BY
AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN ARMENIA
AMCHAMS IN EUROPE (ACE) BEST PRACTICE CONFERENCE From 16-19 October, 2019, 54 representatives from 30 American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams) across Europe attended the AmChams in Europe annual Best Practice Conference in Belgrade, Serbia. Armenia team - Karine Sarkissian, Executive Director, AmCham in Armenia and Anush Hovsepyan, Marketing and Events Lead participated in the conference. AmChams in Europe serves as the umbrella organization for 45 AmCham members from 43 countries throughout Europe and Eurasia, and Armenia is one of them. The annual Conference is a great platform to exchange best practices, to share knowledge and expand the networks, as well as to discuss topics impacting AmChams and their members in Europe and not only. In the Conference within the traditional Creative Network Award nomination, AmCham Belgium presented its #MemberMonday innovative social media campaign and among 5 candidates won the 1st Special Prize. Thank you to the AmCham Serbia incredible team for the warm hospitality and great management of the conference and to AmCham Slovenia, the Secretariat of the network, for leading the event!
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AMCHAM BOARD MEMBER MR. ASHOT GHAZARYAN Please meet Mr. Ashot Ghazaryan who has been serving as AmCham Board member since 2015. In his full-time occupation, Mr. Ashot Ghazaryan is the Vice President of Operations/Chief Operating Officer of the American University of Armenia (AUA). He is responsible for strategic planning and management of the departments including the Library (2011-2016), Information and Communication Technologies Services (ICTS), Communications, Administrative Services, Legal Services, Human Resources, Facilities, Construction/Renovation projects, USAID/American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) funded projects, Procurement, Health Safety/Security Services and Auxiliary Enterprises. Before joining AUA, Mr. Ghazaryan was the Executive Director of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Armenian Representation for two decades. He administered multimillion USD value cultural, educational, humanitarian, media, infrastructure, ecumenical and government projects implemented by AGBU in the Republic of Armenia and in Nagorno-Karabakh. He also served as a member of the Republic of Armenia’s Committee on Humanitarian Projects; the Academic Council of the Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts; the Board of Trustees of the World Bank-funded Social Investment Fund of Armenia and the Union of Friends of the Armenian State Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Ghazaryan was a delegate of the National Church Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church in 1995 and 1999. Aside from professional endeavors, Mr. Ghazaryan enjoys swimming and playing guitar. Amidst his busy schedule he enjoys spending time with his family and fantastic grandchildren.
BE MY GUEST WITH SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES ARMENIA On 12 October, 2019, in the scope of AmCham “Be My Guest” series, AmCham members were invited to SOS Children's Villages Armenia in Kotayk. During the visit SOS Children's Villages Armenia top management Mr. Spartak Sargsyan, Ms. Vanane Ararktsyan, Mr. Davit Avanesyan and Mr. Ruben Pashinyan presented the organization mission, its activities and operating procedures. The AmCham Members and their children had a chance to take a tour in the village, meet the SOS Children's Villages beneficiaries and participate in the clay technology class and prepared handmade pitchers. AmCham Members were emotionally touched and excited with the wonderful and warm living conditions of the village and the dedication of the SOS Children's Villages Armenia employees, as one could see the happiness of the children living in the families. At the end of the tour the participants enjoyed a delicious homemade lunch prepared by SOS mothers and the children. “SOS Children’s Villages” Armenian Charity Foundation started its activities in the Republic of Armenia immediately after the devastating Spitak earthquake in 1988. The Foundation is a child-centered organization whose mission is to provide family-like care for children in difficult life circumstances. Based on this, the Foundation operates in two directions: alternative care services, as well as family strengthening services provided for the socially insecure families with minor children. In 1990, SOS Children's Village Kotayk opened its doors in Kotayk Region for the children who lost their parents in the earthquake. Today, activities of “SOS Children’s Villages” Armenian Charity Foundation include 24/7 alternative care for children (long-term and short-term), Mother and Child Shelter, and Family Strengthening Programs in Kotayk and Tavush regions, Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun communities of Yerevan city. The programs implemented by “SOS Children’s Villages” Armenian Charity Foundation are aimed at the improvement of the child protection system in the Republic of Armenia, as well as at ensuring the right of the child to live in a family.
TAX, CUSTOMS AND FISCAL POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING On 23 October, 2019, AmCham Armenia 1st Meeting of Tax, Customs and Fiscal Policy (TCuFP) Committee took place at Hyatt Place Yerevan. Some 14 companies with 16 members are enrolled in the Committee. During the meeting TCuFP Committee Members and AmCham Armenia Executive Team discussed the Committee Mission and objectives documents and agreed on it. The participants were introduced to the AmCham Committee Policy Rules and Procedures. During the meeting, the participants unanimously elected Mr. Nerses Nersisyan, KPMG as a Chair and Mr. Kamo Karapetyan, EY as a Vice-Chair. The TCuFP Committee will play a significant role for developing strategic documents in the sector via cooperating with different interested parties and AmCham member companies. Members from AmCham member companies participated in the meeting: Mr. Aharon Levonyan, Seraphim Consulting who also represents the AmCham Board at the Committee, Mr. Nerses Nersisyan, KPMG Armenia, Mr. Aharon Chilingaryan, BDO Armenia, Mr. Karen Zakaryan, FinArm - Financial Market Members Association, Mr. Suren Ghalumyan, Deloitte Armenia, Mr. Kamo Karapetyan, EY, Ms. Lusine Mnatsakanyan, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company and Mr. Armen Mkrtchyan, Avenue Consulting Group.
SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL PRACTICES On 15 October 2019, AmCham Armenia organized a workshop, an open discussion on Sustainable Waste Management International Case Studies Sharing in Armenia. The workshop was initiated by the AmCham Fast Moving Consumer Goods Committee Waste Management working group. During the workshop there were participants from all the relevant parties, specifically: government, international organizations and private sector representatives. The event started with the welcoming speech of Ms. Elina Markaryan, AmCham FMCG Committee Chair, who presented the Coca-Cola commitment to comply with the Sustainable Waste Management Practices. Mr. Vache Terteryan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of RA, also greeted the initiative expressing the readiness of the government to cooperate with all the interested parties to address environmental commitments of Armenia to the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) roadmap. During the discussion attendees were able to learn about the international best practices from top notch experts invited by The Coca-Cola Company, Mr. Casper Durandt, Head of Sustainable Packaging and Agriculture for Coca-Cola Southern and East Africa, Mr. Mugurel Radulescu, Head of Regional Network at Point Public Affairs, Mr. Alen Amirkhanian, Director, AUA Acopian Center for the Environment and Mr. Harutyun Alpetyan, Circular Economy Expert, AUA Acopian Center for the Environment to select the best Sustainable Waste Management model to be applied in Armenia.
AMCHAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS BREAKFAST MEETING WITH MR. ZAREH SINANYAN On 11 October, 2019, AmCham Board of Directors and AmCham Executive Team had a breakfast meeting with Mr. Zareh Sinanyan, High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Republic of Armenia. During the meeting the Commissioner spoke about strategic directions for working with the Diaspora, highlighting in particular the promotion of repatriation and the vision of a great repatriation, the development and adoption of the relevant law, the integration of the Diaspora's human potential into the public and private sectors of Armenia. Those in attendance also highlighted the activation of links with the young Diaspora circles, spoke of a number of legislative gaps that hinder repatriation, the need for tax and customs reforms. In the context of investments, confidence in Armenia's economic stability, the opportunities for developing Armenian-American trade relations were particularly emphasized.
DID YOU KNOW? International Day of Non-Violence On 2 October, 2007 UN General Assembly proclaimed this day as an International non-violence day. The principle of non-violence is the rejection of using physical violence in order to achieve social or political change. This form of social struggle has been adopted all over the world in campaigns for social justice. This day is celebrated of the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth. Every year several events are organized to encourage States to collaborate together to build a world of tolerance and lasting peace. Around 38% of parents practice physical punishment in Armenia. The majority of families do not consider this to be violence against their child but, on the contrary, a manifestation of love, care and attention, thus making it acceptable by society a social norm. Armenia has adopted and implementing the Law on Domestic Violence since 2017, to end violence against children in Armenia by the year 2030.