Cooperation between Armenian and Turkish entrepreneurs will eventually lead to opening of borders: Expert
15.12.2011,
21:11
Increasing ties between Armenian and Turkish entrepreneurs will reduce tension between the two nations and eventually lead to the opening of the borders, Artush Mkrtchyan, the Armenian coordinator of the Caucasus Business Development Network (CBDN) said t
YEREVAN, December 15. /ARKA/. Increasing ties between Armenian and Turkish entrepreneurs will reduce tension between the two nations and eventually lead to the opening of the borders, Artush Mkrtchyan, the Armenian coordinator of the Caucasus Business Development Network (CBDN) said to ARKA.
On December 14 The Gyumri Development Foundation launched the second “Gyumri-Kars Economic Forum”. The three-day event is organized as part of the “Support to Armenia-Turkey Rapprochement” project, and is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Consortium of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, the Yerevan Press Club, the International Center for Human Development and the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia. The Forum is co-supported by UK-based International Alert.
The second forum has brought together approximately 30 Armenian and Turkish business owners from Gyumri, Vanadzor, and Kars, including cheese makers, wine producers, specialists in meat and dairy production, tourism and hospitality, and stone processing.
"The two countries have no diplomatic relations and we are trying to fill in this gap. Our task now is to create an environment for businesses in both countries," Mr. Mkrtchyan said in an interview with ARKA. According to him, the closed borders is a huge impediment to businesses.
"If the borders were opened the trade turnover between the two countries would reach several billion dollars", he stressed.
CBDN was founded in 2005 as an institutionalised network of regional offices in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Tskhinvali, Sokhumi, Yerevan, Gyumri, Baku, in Nagorno-Karabakh and in Istanbul. The scope of their work ranges from training,
consultations for local entrepreneurs, sponsorship of business initiatives, research, and advocacy. The network is an effective information exchange mechanism and ensures coordinated work of the individual centers, timely assistance and decision making. There are also bi-lateral, tri-lateral and regional activities and events that are being carried out under the aegis of the CBDN and International Alert in cooperation with local businesses and business associations and international partners. CBDN supports creation of new platforms to promote regional economic cooperation (Caucasian Tea Producers’ Association, Women’s Economic Forum, etc) and supports business initiatives that are for mutually beneficial and promote positive change. -0-
On December 14 The Gyumri Development Foundation launched the second “Gyumri-Kars Economic Forum”. The three-day event is organized as part of the “Support to Armenia-Turkey Rapprochement” project, and is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Consortium of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, the Yerevan Press Club, the International Center for Human Development and the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia. The Forum is co-supported by UK-based International Alert.
The second forum has brought together approximately 30 Armenian and Turkish business owners from Gyumri, Vanadzor, and Kars, including cheese makers, wine producers, specialists in meat and dairy production, tourism and hospitality, and stone processing.
"The two countries have no diplomatic relations and we are trying to fill in this gap. Our task now is to create an environment for businesses in both countries," Mr. Mkrtchyan said in an interview with ARKA. According to him, the closed borders is a huge impediment to businesses.
"If the borders were opened the trade turnover between the two countries would reach several billion dollars", he stressed.
CBDN was founded in 2005 as an institutionalised network of regional offices in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Tskhinvali, Sokhumi, Yerevan, Gyumri, Baku, in Nagorno-Karabakh and in Istanbul. The scope of their work ranges from training,
consultations for local entrepreneurs, sponsorship of business initiatives, research, and advocacy. The network is an effective information exchange mechanism and ensures coordinated work of the individual centers, timely assistance and decision making. There are also bi-lateral, tri-lateral and regional activities and events that are being carried out under the aegis of the CBDN and International Alert in cooperation with local businesses and business associations and international partners. CBDN supports creation of new platforms to promote regional economic cooperation (Caucasian Tea Producers’ Association, Women’s Economic Forum, etc) and supports business initiatives that are for mutually beneficial and promote positive change. -0-
