Armenian PM discusses national competitiveness foundation prospects with Armenian-British lord

YEREVAN, October 30. / ARKA /. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan discussed today a set of issues regarding the future activity of the National Competitiveness Foundation with British professor of Armenian origin, ex-minister of health of Great Britain, a member of the House of Lords Ara Darzi, who is on the board of trustees of the National Competitiveness Foundation.

Mr. Darzi attended today the groundbreaking ceremony in Yerevan for the Armenian Cancer Center of Excellence.

"We are pleased that you cooperate with the National Competitiveness Foundation, which was established on the principles of cooperation between the state and the private sector and which is trying to not only increase the competitiveness of the Republic of Armenia, but also build the capacity of the Armenian people, “Tigran Sargsyan was quoted by the government press office as saying.

"Our first and long-term aim is education reforms, the second medium-term goal is health care, and the third short-term goal is tourism", Sargsyan said.

He also said that the Foundation’s activity will from now aim at attracting multinational corporations to Armenia and the promotion of small and medium businesses.

Darzi said that he was honored to be a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia, adding that he shares the vision of the Prime Minister on the activities of the Foundation and expressed his support for it.

After the exchange of views on issues relating to the mission and programs of the Foundation, the sides discussed also reforms in the health sector of Armenia. Darzi spoke about the international experience in this area and said that on Tuesday at a meeting with the Minister of Health, Derenik Dumanyan, he discussed prospects of cooperation.

Ara Darzi is a professor of surgery at Imperial College. He was born in Iraq in the Armenian family, studied in Ireland and then moved to London. He is considered one of the most renowned surgeons in the world, known for his work in the field of endoscopic and robot-assisted surgery. He is the president of the Institute for Global Innovation in Health at Imperial College.  -0-