The Forum took place on 25th of June in Warsaw Hilton Hotel and was attended by over 200 guests – representatives of Polish and Armenian companies, trade associations and media. Food and agricultural products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, transport, constructions, tourism and petrochemistry, those were the most widely represented industries.
President Komorowski reminded that, Polish-Armenian trade relations have a long history – ‘Historically, there were many great examples of successful co-operation; nevertheless it is worthwhile to work towards adding few more’ – he remarked, when at the forum. The president also stated that he hopes that Armenia-EU association agreement will be signed in autumn. Armenia, along side with Georgia and Moldova, is one of the 3 counties scheduled to do so during Novemeber’s Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius. President Sargsyan also referred to the history of Polish-Armenian relations reminding that Polish kings used to invite Armenians to settle in many Polish towns, where they were granted various privileges.
Armenian president prised the current state of the Polish economy, stressing that ‘the fate favours those who wake up early and fight hard for a better life’. At the same time he pointed out that mutual economic relations are currently underdeveloped and require intensification. He called Polish and Armenian entrepreneurs for a greater activity in both markets – ‘ We both decided that it is necessary to support idea of such economic forums as this one’ – he said referring to the talks with Bronislaw Komorowski.
Polish secretary of the state at Ministry of Economy Tomasz Tomczykiewicz and Armenian Minister of Economy Varhram Avanesyan, also were present at the forum representing their departments. According to the vice-minister Tomczykiewicz a resumed air link between Warsaw and Yerevan (re-opened on 15th of June) will be a great support for expanding Polish-Armenian trade relations – ‘the two way transport will facilitate greatly a creation of the new business contacts, I also hope that it will lead to an increase in tourism’ he said.
The minister Avanesyan mentioned the Armenia-EU association agreement’s negotiations that his government is currently conducting, as well as Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agrement (DCFTA) EU -Armenia. ‘We hope for to conclude the talks in a timely manner, which will have a great positive impact on intensification of our mutual economic relations’- he stated. The forum was led by the president of PAIiIZ Slawomir Majman and the general director of Armenian Development Agency (ADA) Rober Harutyunyan.
Before the official part of the forum a bilateral talks between Polish and Armenian entrepreneurs were organised. For most of them it was a chance to establish some first contacts with potential business partners, which may have an incremental effect on currently small volume of the bilateral trade (USD 32.7 mln). The polish export to Armenia is much bigger than import. Last year the value of the polish goods sold in the Armenian market was equal to USD 32.1 mln, however the import was just USD 0.26 mln. In last three years polish main export products to Armenia are engineering products, chemicals and food products. The Armenian import is dominated by metal products and food products. During the forum, the Armenian Minister of Economy Varhram Avanesyan and the Polish secretary of the state at Ministry of Economy witnessed the signing of the co-operation agreement between Polish Confederation of Private Employers Lewiatan (PKPP Lewiatan) and the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia.
In this year edition of World Bank’s report Doing Busines Armenia is ranked 32nd (up 18 positions) -therefore is the most business friendly destination of all the countries of Commonwealth of Independent States.
Source: PAIiIZ