AmCham Monthly Newsletter №9 2019

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MONTHLY №9 NEWSLETTER for a Better Business Environment

September 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

AMCHAM FMCG 2ND COMMITTEE MEETING On 18 September, 2019 the FMCG 2nd Committee meeting took place at the Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan. AmCham FMCG Committee Chair, Co-chairs, Committee members and AmCham executive team discussed the details of the upcoming event on Sustainable Waste Management, International Best Practice Sharing in Armenia which was planned to take place on 15 October, 2019, to be facilitated by high level international experts invited by The Coca-Cola Company, as well as representatives from the public sector and industry.

All the Committee members gave their proposals and their input regarding the event in order to have an effective open discussion.

DID YOU KNOW? International Day of Democracy In 2007, United Nations declared September 15 the International Day of Democracy and they invite all member states to commemorate the day each year. This is a good opportunity for all of us to review the state of democracy in the world and in our countries. This year’s theme is participation and reminds us that democracy is about people and is built on inclusion, equal treatment and, of course, participation — plus it is a fundamental building block for peace, sustainable development and human rights.

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AMCHAM BOARD MEMBER MR. TIGRAN GASPARYAN Please meet Mr. Tigran Gasparyan, who has been serving as an AmCham Board member from 2011 - 2014. Mr. Gasparyan was re-elected to AmCham Board since 2016.

Mr. Gasparyan is the Managing partner, Director of KPMG Armenia LLC since 2014.

His career path at KPMG is rather long – starting in 2002 from an entry level professional Mr. Gasparyan was promoted to a Head of Audit and later as a Director of the company.

KPMG is one of the Big 4 international companies providing audit, tax and advisory services. Mr. Gasparyan has an extensive working experience in Armenia, Russia, Georgia and UK with clients in different sectors of economy.

Mr. Gasparyan holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Yerevan State Institute of Economics. He is a licensed auditor authorized by the RA Ministry of Finance and a Board member of the Association of Accountants and Auditors of Armenia (AAAA).

Mr. Gasparyan is happily married, with two kids and enjoys spending time with them.

Mr. Gasparyan loves football – he regularly plays football with co-workers and is a dedicated fan of Chelsea Football Club.

GENERAL ELECTRIC AVIATION CZECH (GEAC) MEETINGS WITH GOVERNMENT AND POTENTIAL PARTNERS On 10-12 September, 2019 AmCham Armenia received highly ranked Business Visitors from the General Electric.

Mr. Milan Slapak, President & CEO Czech Republic and Slovakia at General Electric (GE) and Mr. Ilia Zhukov, GE Aviation, Regional Leader Russia & CIS. As per their request AmCham Armenia organized meetings with Mr. Feliks Tsolakyan, Minister at Ministry of Emergency Situations, Mr. Hovik Karapetyan, Chief of the Technical Division of the Mod Logistics Department, Ministry of Defense, Mr. Artyom Smbatyan, Chief Secretary, Ministry of Health, Ms. Tatevik Revazyan, Chairman, Civil Aviation Committee, Mr. Alfred Kocharyan, First Deputy of Chairperson, State Tourism Committee, Mr. Bedřich Kopecký, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Armenia, Mr. Jan Plešinger, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Czech Republic to Armenia, Mr. Ara Hovsepyan, General Manager, ContourGlobal Hydro Cascade and Mr. Sargis Sargsyan, Deputy General Manager, ACBA Leasing, as well as other executives from the ministries.

The objective of the meeting was the introduction of the GE Aviation Czech small aircrafts and discussion of opportunities for its operations in Armenia, in particular, and in the region, in general.

It was agreed that the GE will get back to the interested parties with clarifications in order to finalize cooperation opportunities.

BE MY GUEST WITH KARAS WINES On 14 September, 2019, in the scope of AmCham “Be My Guest� series, AmCham members were invited to Karas Wines in the village Arevadasht.

There were more than 50 participants from 24 AmCham member companies and US Embassy in Armenia.

AmCham members enjoyed an interesting bus tour in Karas vineyards and a plant tour at Karas winery with wine tasting and mouth-watering appetizers.

Since 2004 Karas Wines, wineries and vineyards have been family-owned and a family-run projects.

Karas Wines main mission is to produce world-class vintages from their own vineyards which are located in Armavir, Armenia. Their main goal has been to make the highest-quality wines and go beyond the care they take in managing the vineyards and wineries. An Armenian family from Argentina started Karas Wines family business seeking to renew roots in the original homeland, renewing traditions ensuring sustainable ecosystems and biodiversity.

AmCham members enjoyed the great networking opportunity with highest-quality wines in a breathtaking view and a wonderful atmosphere!

HARVEST FESTIVAL ORGANIZED BY GREEN TRAINING CENTER On 14-15 September, 2019 AmCham Member Green Lane NGO with Green Training Center with the support of the Ministry of Economy, the City Council of Yerevan, Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany, United Nations Development Program in Armenia (UNDP), UN Women's Fund, AmCham Armenia and Caucasus Environmental NGO Network organized the 6th Harvest Festival: Rural Life and Traditions, which was held in Yerevan, in the English Park.

Through the Festival Green Lane aims to bring a positive change and contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture and rural development in Armenia.

There were more than 200 individual and farmer groups, cooperatives and local entrepreneurs from Armenia and abroad, who had the opportunity to sell their own products (dried fruits, vegetables, food, arts and crafts).

Especially this year the festival was exceptional as it had about 30 000 visitors.