March 2020
AmCham Board of Directors on behalf of the AmCham Armenia Members decided to support the Health Care Professionals in Armenia, who during this coronavirus pandemic are selflessly and with sacrifice spending long hours assisting to treat the patients and are on the front lines combating the disease. AmCham Armenia challenges AmCham Member companies to donate and support Armenia! Even a small contribution will SAVE LIVES!
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS YEREVAN IS PROVIDING FREE ACCOMMODATION FOR DOCTORS AND NURSES In this fight against the COVID-19, the work of our doctors and nurses is the most crucial for all. They are working overtime, risking their health, sacrificing their social life to make sure we win this fight and get back to our ordinary life as soon as possible. To show their appreciation and to support the important work of our medical staff, starting from March 20 Holiday Inn Express Yerevan is providing free accommodation for them, so they can continue their work and keep their families safe. With this move they want to encourage other hotels to join them in supporting our government. Holiday Inn Express is strictly following all the guidelines of virus prevention, and keeping the hotel sterilized and virus free.
THANK YOU NOTE AND AMCHAM IN ARMENIA CORONAVIRUS ALERT!
Dear AmCham Members, On these days receiving thank you letters from you is really a big MOTIVATION. We would just like to say thank you for being a part of our family. We are very grateful for your continued loyalty because we wouldn’t be here without you. We appreciate that you are with us! AmCham Armenia is working from home and has limited our operations of hosting events in our office and other sites since 13 March, until further notice. We will still attending some important virtual meetings as well as . We do care about the health of our Members and Team, as well as decided to take a responsible action in order to prevent spreading the virus. So, we are trying to organize online webinars and events which you can attend staying at home. Follow the Basic protective measures against the novel coronavirus: 1. Wash your hands frequently. 2. Maintain social distancing at least 1-meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. 3. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. 4. Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. 5. If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early and stay home if you feel unwell
Stay Healthy and Safe ! Thank you! For you some useful link! MoH of RA Armenian unified infocenter/Հայկական միասնական տեղեկատվական... National Center for Disease Control and Prevention WHO WoldoMeter Ministry of Economy
AMCHAM GM BREAKFAST MEETING On 5 March 2020, AmCham held its General Managers’ breakfast 1st meeting in 2020 with AmCham Member companies. This month the GM breakfast was held at the Tufenkian Historic Yerevan Hotel. A number of General Managers, including those from ContourGlobal Hydro Cascade, Mentor Graphics Development Services, American University of Armenia, CocaCola Hellenic Bottling Company Armenia, Oriflame Cosmetics Armenia, Converse Bank, Fine Cars of Armenia, Urban Logistic Services, Green Training Center, BDO Armenia and ArchiDutch gathered to discuss issues related to business in Armenia and AmCham future plans.
ARMENIAN – BELARUSIAN BUSINESS FORUM On 12 March 2020, Armenian-Belarusian Business Forum was held at Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan. The conference was organized by the Ministry of Economy (MoE) and was officially opened by Mr. Tigran Khachatryan, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia and Mr. Vitaly Drozhja, Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Belarus. Mr. Tigran Khachatryan emphasized that meetings in such a format are important in terms of finding new economic, trade and investment opportunities and added that there is a big potential between our countries, which can bring a big progress in trade and economic relations. Today, both in Armenia and in Belarus, there are all conditions for the effective operations of our companies as well as mutually beneficial and fruitful cooperation. Mr. Vitaly Drozhja noted that the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries is developing dynamically, which is also evident by the statistics. The activities for establishing contacts between the business circles of the two countries are more active as well as there is an active cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He added that the opportunities for the development of economic relations between the two countries are big and assured that the 14th Session of the Armenian-Belarusian Intergovernmental Commission and this business forum, which is the continuation of the Session will also promote the further development of bilateral cooperation. AmCham Member companies were invited and participated in the Forum for networking and cooperation opportunities.
AMCHAM ARMENIA AND ARMENIAN INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS (AIOD) SIGNED A MOU On 9 March, 2020 AmCham Armenia and Armenian Institute of Directors (AIoD) signed a MOU on cooperation to strengthen the corporate governance best practices in Armenia and create a sound and exclusive basis for the development and improvement of the business sector. Specifically, the joint activities will be focused on: - To assist and establish Armenian Companies’ Board of Directors as their governing bodies and the improvement of their productivity, - To contribute to the improvement of professionalism, experience and status of directors in Armenia, and to assist the directors in matters related to their activities. The cooperation will be carried out via joint events as seminars and conferences, experience-sharing activities, as well as educational programs of mutual interest in order to operate in a more effective and sustainable way.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CENTER AND CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE ENTERPRISE (CIPE) JOINT EVENT On 4 March, 2020 AmCham Member companies participated in the Corporate Governance Center and Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE, www.cipe.org), jointly organized event on the Anti-corruption Compliance as a Corporate Social Responsibility Manual, where the representatives of Armenian companies – such as MTS Armenia and VEON Armenia also shared their experience on the ethical and anti-corruption compliance existing systems in their organizations. CIPE is the only institution in the world that works to support democracy and to strengthen the private sector. Free market capitalism and global trade have resulted in the greatest economic gains in human history, yet gaps remain and some are being left behind. This is the result of unequal economic opportunity, a lack of universal entrepreneurial and economic opportunities, and an inability for people to connect to global value chains. CIPE’s programs work to address these problems. CIPE was founded on the principle that economic freedom and political freedom are linked. A strong private sector needs a flourishing democracy to work – and vice-versa. Their work focuses on building strong democratic institutions to create an enabling environment for business and entrepreneurship to flourish. Whether that be leading anti-corruption efforts, training entrepreneurs, helping local business associations, chambers of commerce, and think tanks, assisting in presidential debates focusing on the economy, or building good governance structures – CIPE is are there on the front lines battling to strengthen and support democracy and its institutions so the private sector can thrive.
DID YOU KNOW?
World Meteorological Day Every year on 23 March the World Meteorological Day takes place and commemorates the coming into force on 23 March 1950 of the Convention establishing the World Meteorological Organization. It showcases the essential contribution of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to the safety and wellbeing of society. This day is celebrated with various activities all around the world. The themes chosen for World Meteorological Day reflect topical weather, climate or water-related issues. This year’s slogan of the World Meteorological Day is Climate and Water. Currently the Organization has 193 member states. Armenia joined WMO in 1992, and in 2004 by the decision of the Armenian government March 23 is celebrated in the country as a Professional Day of Meteorologists.
THE U.S. AUTHORIZED 1.1 MILLION ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. has made available nearly $274 million in emergency health and humanitarian assistance to help countries better combat the pandemic. We are pleased that $ 1.1 million has been authorized for Armenia. This support will be implemented through World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and will focus on the following areas: national laboratories; surveillance, case detection and rapid response; infection prevention and control; points of entry; case management; preparedness planning, risk communication, community engagement; and health and hygiene promotion. U.S. government agencies are working together to prioritize foreign assistance based on coordination and the potential for impact. With today’s new funds, the United States is providing the following specific assistance which you can find by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2R794ET