ATTENTION: ITALIAN BUSINESSMEN IN ARMENIA
Panorama
Dec 14 2011
Armenia
What makes cooperation with Armenia attractive? Italian businessmen
could be heard answering to this request in interviews with Armenian
mass media outlets after they had a meeting with Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan.
Armenian President is paying a working visit to Italy, where he has
had a meeting with Italian business community.
“Pieralisi” industrial group – experienced in metal mechanics, machine
tool and instrument making industries. Practically, the group focuses
on Armenia for the first time, but at the same time the group can see
a serious potential. The businessman has particularly highlighted the
similarities in cultures and world-views. “Though Armenia isn’t a big
country,” “Pieralisi” assessed our potential as wide. The businessman
has stated that he was basically interested in milk, cheese, grape,
wine and tomato transformation. Thus they are intended to monitor
the market.
Michele Ambrosini, the President of “Banca Marche”, said he had
never had any banking business with Armenia, but has been close by
his university activities. Referring to the banking system, he said
it’s difficult to make a long-term forecast, but has highly assessed
the transmission of Italian small and middle enterprises and “know
how” system. In a meeting with President Sargsyan, the businessman,
who is also a professor at Urbino University, recommended to develop
a student & professor exchange program.
Senator Cazzoli, the leader of Senate right wing and member of
industry commission, talked about the role of Armenia. In Shanghai
international expo Armenia was displayed in a high level and played
its own role on the international stage among other countries.
Although Armenia is present in Italy’s political and cultural centers,
the next step is to function in suburbs, in the industrial centers,
also.
“Armenia is not only Aznavour,” concluded Cazzoli.
Antonella Gamba presented textile industry. It’s three years she
runs a business in Armenia making sport clothes. In three years they
managed to create 1000 working places. The positive Armenian factor,
according to Gamba, is human factor.
Giovanni Rubini, the chief manager of “Renko” holding, which is famous
in Armenia has separated hydroelectric station in Alaverdi, as well
as cycling square in Yerevan. He has said they are currently focused
on two major construction orders. “They are the Central Bank Dilijan
branch and residence buildings for the staff members,” said Rubini.
“The education level and quality in your country is high. Now we have
15 Armenian specialists working on Italian programs of ours. It’s
human factor and professional resources that encourage us to work,”
said the businessman.
>From the viewpoint of the development of economic relations, Presidents
of Armenia and Italy stressed in their meeting the importance of
frequent contacts of the businessmen and organization of the business
forums. President Napolitano expressed hope that President Sargsyan’s
meeting with the representatives of business circles of Italy will
become a new impetus for the attraction of Italian investments in
the Armenian economy and economic development of the two countries.