French development agency to operate in Armenia- president

YEREVAN, November 15. /ARKA/. The French Development Agency will start its performance in Armenia, and the state authorities are ready to support it, Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan said at the meeting with the representatives of the French business community in Lyon, according to the President’s office. 

“We pin great hopes on the activities of that Agency since we are aware of its capabilities, since we are aware of the desire of the French leadership and since we are ready to do our best to make the Agency’s activities in Armenia a success,” President Sargsyan said.

According to President Sargsyan, the Armenian-French Business Club has been functioning in Armenia since last year, and yesterday the President of France Francois Hollande suggested transforming it into the Trade and Industry Chamber. 

“We accept that proposal with great pleasure. The Club provides professional and information support, organizes regular thematic roundtables and serves to strengthen the French business community in Armenia and ensure a greater involvement of the French companies in the Armenian market.”

Mr. Sargsyan also spoke of recent initiatives and developments which were of interest for the entrepreneurs of France and Lyon in particular, implemented reforms, Armenian-French economic ties, historical trade relations and prospects of deepening these relations.

Serzh Sargsyan noted that if existing Armenian-French potential in that area is fully and efficiently realized, economic opportunities of independent Armenia will allow to increase considerably, even multiply the turnover between the two countries.

In the framework of his official visit to France, President Serzh Sargsyan on November 13 left for Lyon, which has a large and well-organized Armenian community, where he met with the Mayor of Lyon, Senator Gerard Collomb.

The French Development Agency is a financial institution that provides aid to the developing countries via grants, credits, etc.--0-