For a Better Business Environment
NEWSLETTER CHRISTMAS EDITION December 2016 Annual General Meeting of AmCham (AGM 2016)
On 18 November 2016, American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia (AmCham) held its consecutive Annual General Meeting in Marriott Hotel, Yerevan. The meeting was chaired by AmCham President, Mr. Tigran Jrbashyan. AmCham presented its key achievements, development prospects, and financial standing. After two years of productive work in AmCham as President, Mr. Jrbashyan stepped down and Mr. Ara Hovsepyan (Chief Executive Officer of ContourGlobal Hydro Cascade CJSC) was elected as the new AmCham President. Newly elected board members are David Sargsyan (Ameria Group), Hayk Aloyan (Lydian Armenia), Elina Markaryan (CocaCola HBCA), and Karen Garaseferyan (JTI Armenia).
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Launch of “Responsible Business Network”
On 25 November 2016, AmCham and CSR Armenia NGO launched a joint project “Responsible Business Network” to support further development of Corporate Social Responsibility in Armenia. This network aims at creating an institutionalized group of companies that will jointly fund and/or implement various CSR projects and shape socially responsible corporate citizens. RA Government officials, diplomatic mission representatives, AmCham members, and a wider business community were present at the event, which was funded by ContourGlobal Hydro Cascade CJSC. The key speakers were Mr. Ara Hovsepyan, AmCham President; Mr. Artsvik Minasyan, the RA Minister of Nature Protection; Mr. Nazareth Seferian and Mr. Raffy Semerdjian, the Founder and Co-founder of “CSR Armenia” NGO. In the scope of this initiative, AmCham is planning a set of events for 2017 and encourages interested parties to reach out to AmCham and get engaged in the process.
Membership meeting with Mr. John B. Judis
On 30 November 2016, AmCham hosted a discussion session with Mr. John B. Judis, who is an American journalist, a senior writer at The National Journal, an editor-at-large at Talking Points Memo, contributing editor to The American Prospect, and a former senior editor at The New Republic. Mr. Judis had an interactive discussion on the U.S. elections and presented his recently published book - “The Populist Explosion: How the Great Recession Transformed American and European Politics.” According to Bloomberg, the book was named as one of the Best Books of 2016. The book is also in NY Times 2016 list of “6 Books to Help Understand Trump’s Win.”
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Presentation of Regional Economic Outlook by IMF Resident Representative to Armenia
On 14 December 2016, Ms. Teresa Daban Sanchez, IMF Resident Representative to Armenia, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the “Regional Economic Outlook for the Caucasus and Central Asia Region.� During the presentation Ms. Sanchez presented the recent macroeconomic developments and challenges of the Caucasus and Central Asia region, with an emphasis on recent and prospective developments in Armenia. Afterwards, AmCham member companies and a number of invited guests from the wider business community held a question-and-answer session with the international donor.
AmCham visit to Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Armenia
On 21 December 2016, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Armenia generously hosted AmCham Board members in the factory, gave a special tour, and presented projects and recent accomplishments by CCHBCA. AmCham Board also held its December Board meeting there. The participants had an exciting experience at Coca-Cola factory, thanks to AmCham Board member Ms. Elina Markaryan, Public Affairs and Communications Director at CCHBCA.
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AmCham Christmas Party 2016
On 15 December 2016, AmCham Armenia held its traditional Christmas Party at Salon Restaurant, 8 Abovyan Street. Mr. Ara Hovsepyan, AmCham President, opened the event and welcomed the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Mr. Richard M. Mills, Jr., who delivered 2016 close-out talk to AmCham organization. The new Executive Director of AmCham, Ms. Diana Ghazaryan, was also introduced, who previously served on AmCham Board representing Booz Allen Hamilton in Armenia. Throughout the evening, the guests were entertained with various programs. They had the opportunity to try the molecular gastronomy, take pictures in a specifically assigned photobooth area, participate in a #maniquennechallenge, as well as relax and enjoy themselves on the dance floor. With around 100 participants, the AmCham Christmas Party 2016 was yet another successful event in the organization's history.
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