AmCham Monthly Newsletter №2 2019

For a Better Business Environment

American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia

MONTHLY №2 NEWSLETTER February 2019

AmCham is an independent business association operating in Armenia since 2000. AmCham -In November,the you invited worldrepresents interests of about 130 member companies from almost all sectors of the economy. AmCham’s goal is to enhance US-Armenia business relations and improve 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

AMCHAM GM BREAKFAST MEETING AT GARUN CAFE On February 13, 2019 AmCham held its first General Managers’ breakfast meeting of 2019 at “Garun” healthy food cafe.

During the breakfast the participants discussed topics related to business environment in Armenia. AmCham hosted the executives of AREGAK UCO, Legelata, TK&Partners, Cambridge International School of Armenia CIS, British American Tobacco Armenia, World Vision Armenia, City of Smile Charity Foundation, HyeLandz/ "Eco Village Resort" LLC, McCann Yerevan.

As non-member company AmCham hosted the CEO of Wigmore Clinic.

AmCham board members representing ContourGlobal Hydro Cascade CJSC, Synergy International Systems Inc., HSBC Bank Armenia CJSC, U.S.Embassy were present at the meeting.

AMCHAM BOARD MEMBER OF THE MONTH: AMCHAM 1ST VICE PRESIDENT MRS. ELINA MARKARYAN Please meet Mrs. Elina Markaryan who has been serving as AmCham First Vice President since 2017.

Currently, she holds a position of Public Affairs and Communication Director at Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Armenia and is responsible for Government Relationship, Stakeholders, Communication as well as Corporate Social Responsibility practices, design and implementation addressing local needs and priorities.

She holds MSc in Public Policy and Administration from the London School of Economics and possesses project management and consulting experience in business development management. Her career spans from working at the President’s Office in Armenia to German International Cooperation (GIZ) and United Nations. In her free time, Mrs. Markaryan is interested in public lecturing and charitable donations. As a hobby, Mrs. Markaryan prefers traveling, sports/ kick-boxing.

DID YOU KNOW? February is World Cancer Awareness Month World Cancer Day is an international day marked on February 4 and International Childhood Cancer Day is February 15.

The objective is to raise awareness of cancer as one of the most terrible diseases of modern civilization and to draw attention to the prevention, early detection, and treatment of the disease as well as to express support for people who fight against the cancer.

Every year about 18 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed worldwide.

In Armenia we have about 9000 new cases each year 1% of which are children.

AMCHAM PARTICIPATES IN THE REVIEW OF THE AUA’S GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM On February 6, 2019 AmCham was invited to a luncheon meeting and discussion with the external review committee for the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) General Education program. Every five to six years each academic program at AUA engages in an academic review process which aims to help the program and the university continuously evaluate and improve degree programs based on data, stakeholder input, collaborative analysis, student learning assessment outcomes, and feedback from external reviewers.

AMCHAM MEETS WITH EBRD DELEGATION

EBRD is initiating work on Armenia country diagnostic which aims to identify the main obstacles that constrain the capacity of the private sector to develop and to advance Armenia’s transition towards a sustainable market economy.

To kick off the process, EBRD country and sector economists held meetings with the stakeholders in Armenia to seek their views on the progress and remaining challenges. The country diagnostic will be used to inform and to help shape the Bank’s strategic priorities in the upcoming new country strategies.

AMCHAM HAD A MEETING At THE EMBASSY OF SWEDEN On February 4, AmCham Board members and the Executive Director had a meeting with Mr. Henrik Hallgren, Program Manager at the International Council of Swedish Industry and Mr. Martin Fredriksson, Charge d’ affaires of the Embassy of Sweden in Yerevan.

Among the topics discussed were the political and economic situation, labor market, investment climate and the business environment in the country.

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