Armenian-Belgian business forum launched in Yerevan

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian-Belgian collaboration is on its way to development, Armenian Development

Agency (ADA) Director General Robert Harutyunyan told a news conference. "This has been the first meeting we've organized jointly with Vallonia, Belgium. The main goal of the meeting is establishment of collaboration with Armenian and Belgian business circles to enable creation of joint enterprise and provision of product turnover," he said.



According to Harutyunyan, the first Armenian-Belgian business forum was held last year. "Currently our task is to strengthen and develop our collaboration." According to Director General the collaboration will be established within UNIDO assistance framework.



According to Harutyunyan, current collaboration level has been unsatisfactory so far, so it needs to be further developed. "At present there are no Belgian enterprises in Armenia, several companies with Belgian capital has been operating so far." In this connection he added that in 2008 direct investments in Armenia comprised $3,6 million, exceeding 2007 results by 2,5%, product turnover comprised $18, 65 million within the same period.



"Export and import between the two countries is presented in similar figures, but there's a chance to increase them. Business forums like this one will provide us with the possibility."



Harutyunayn noted that mainly jewelry has been exported from Armenia. Foodstuff is being imported from Belgium. Besides, there are certain achievements in the sphere of rural production, pharmaceutical and chemical spheres, as well as information technologies.



Belgian delegation including 11 companies' representatives is headed by General Director of Valloni Belgian state's Agency for external trade and investments, Phillip Syunen. Armenia was represented by ADA Director General, Robert Harutyunyan and Commercial Attaché of Belgian Embassy in Russia Ivan Korsak.