08:58,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The death toll in the Surmalu market explosion reached 6, the Ministry of Emergency Situations spokesperson Hayk Kostanyan said.
“One more body was recovered from the rubble. As of this moment the death toll stands at 6. The search and rescue operations continue,” he said.
2 of the 6 victims are yet to be identified.
16 people are missing.
09:30,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the area of the Surmalu market in Yerevan in the morning of August 15.
Mayor of Yerevan Hrachya Sargsyan, Minister of Emergency Situations Armen Pambukhchyan, Rescue Service Director Armen Gasparyan and the Head of the Coordinating Office of Inspection Agencies Artur Asoyan accompanied the Prime Minister.
Pashinyan was briefed on the search and rescue operations and the firefighting efforts, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Earlier on August 15 authorities said the death toll in the explosion reached 6.
09:44,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The office of Enterprise Armenia in Spain will use all opportunities to promote and facilitate foreign investment in Armenia and position Enterprise Armenia as a one-stop shop for investors, Enterprise Armenia Representative in Spain Levon Grigorian said in an interview with ARMENPRESS.
Mr. Grigorián, You have been appointed the representative of Enterprise Armenia in Spain, it is planned to open an office in Spain, when will it officially start its activities?
It has been an honour to be appointed as representative of Enterprise Armenia in Spain. Since the appointment in end-June, the entire Enterprise Armenia team in Spain is already assisting Spanish companies interested in the Armenian market.
The office’s opening to the public will be on September 1st, which will be seated in the iconic building of “Casa Comalat” -Avenida Diagonal 442, 3-2, 08037 in Barcelona-. So, from September, we welcome and await with open arms the visit of any foreign enterprise or entrepreneur interested in the Armenian market or companies willing to expand their activities abroad.
How do you imagine the office’s activities to attract investments from Spain to Armenia? How are you going to promote that investment, how are you going to help investors?
Economic diplomacy is becoming increasingly important in foreign policy and a political priority for the Armenian Government. Strengthening the internationalisation of Armenian companies and attracting productive foreign investment to the country will increase the competitiveness of the Armenian economy and build up our diplomatic relations with third countries.
The office in Spain will have two vectors of work: to promote and facilitate foreign investment in Armenia and position Enterprise Armenia as a one-stop shop for investors.
As a representative office of a national authority for investment promotion in Armenia, we will focus on raising awareness in Spain of Armenia’s investment and business opportunities and contributing to Armenia’s positioning on the investment map for Latin-American and Spanish companies.
We will play a pivotal role in developing institutional cooperation between the Spanish and Armenian authorities, partner organisations, BSOs, business circles and international companies. For such purposes, from September, we will organise monthly business events to attract new investments, promote exports, expand the business network in Spain, and introducing Armenia’s investment climate and the advantages of doing business in Armenia. In addition, at least once per year, we will organise a business trip for the Spanish companies interested in Armenia.
Once the investors are interested in the Armenian market, we will consult them on Armenia’s investment legislation, regulations, government incentives, and potential investment partners.
In addition, the Enterprise Armenian team provides aftercare services to existing foreign investors in Armenia.
To invest in Armenia, which sector might be of particular interest to Spanish businessmen? What potential do you see in Armenia?
The main sectors of interest to the Spanish companies are renewable energies, construction, IT, science, bio-agriculture, textile, tourism and hospitality, luxury goods, pharmaceutical, and winemaking.
Armenia has a unique geostrategic position that can serve as a bridge between east and west, EEU and EU. Therefore, we need to work towards such a goal to show that Armenia can be a natural hub for regional international companies, as it has access to large export markets under preferential conditions.
In addition, Armenia has skilled, well-educated, and cost-efficient talent and low business costs, which are difficult to find in Europe. Besides, we must highlight the comprehensive fiscal and financial incentives system, macroeconomic stability, reliable financial sector, and open-door policy towards foreign investors.
One of the organisation’s goals is to help Armenian exporters enter new markets. In this regard, what opportunity do You see in Spain, how could you help Armenian exporters position Armenian products in the Spanish market?
Although the promotion of export and import is beyond the scope of Enterprise Armenia, we aim to foster the presence of Armenian businesses abroad.
Therefore, we will organise business delegations to accompany them on visits to Spain and help them through our business partners to organise institutional capacity building, networking, or business-to-business events.
Such services will be provided not only to large companies but also to medium-sized and small companies to strengthen their presence abroad.
The main opportunities of the Armenian companies are related to the IT sector and the export of bio-agricultural, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products and raw materials to Spain. However, we will help analyse Armenian companies, case by case, the business opportunities in Spain.
And finally, what else would You like to say about the office and Your work?
As a diasporan Armenian, I realised the importance of engaging more actively to strengthen the country’s economy.
In this regard, I hope that my knowledge of the political, economic, and commercial situation in Spain will play a vital role in developing the country’s economy through the investment of foreign companies and the internationalisation of Armenian companies.
As an international business lawyer, I finished an LLM in International Legal Studies at Georgetown Law in Washington, D.C. Since 2012, I have worked in one of the best law firms in the Iberian market in cities such as New York, London, Sao Paulo, Barcelona, and Madrid. Nowadays, I am the managing partner of GK Group Legal, an international law firm and consulting company based in Barcelona, which will open its Erevan offices soon. Therefore, I am strongly decided to apply all the skills acquired throughout my career to the economic growth of Armenia.
10:05,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. 61 people were taken to hospitals for treatment after the market explosion in Yerevan on August 14.
According to the most recent information, 21 of the 61 people are still hospitalized while the others were discharged after being treated, the healthcare ministry said. Those hospitalized are in moderate condition.
The death toll in the explosion stands at 6, authorities said earlier on August 15.
10:25,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. 350 firefighter-rescuers from Yerevan and other cities participated in the efforts to put out the fire at the Surmalu market after the deadly explosion, the Ministry of Emergency Situations spokesperson Hayk Kostanyan said in a statement. An additional 150 volunteers are involved in the search and rescue, and firefighting operations.
21 vehicles were also pulled out.
The volume of the fire and the collapse area is complicating the search and rescue operation.
The death toll in the explosion stands at 6.
61 people were hospitalized after the blast, but as of August 15 most of them were treated and discharged with 21 still receiving treatment.
16 people are missing.
A strong explosion ripped through the Surmalu market in Yerevan just outside the city center around 13:23, August 14.
The prosecution said the investigators are looking into all possible versions. However the criminal case is opened on Violation of Fire Safety Rules Causing Deaths and Violating of Safety Rules for Storing, Transporting, Using or Supplying Flammable or Incendiary Materials Causing Death.
Initially it was reported that the building which caught fire and subsequently exploded was a fireworks warehouse.
10:46,
STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan offered condolences to the families of the victims of the market explosion in Yerevan.
“The tragic explosion which took place in the Surmalu market in Yerevan as a result of which there are deaths, injured and missing people, deeply shocked us all. On behalf of the people of Artsakh I am expressing condolences and support to the families of the victims and speedy recovery to those injured. At this difficult moment the Armenian nation must display resilience and support all those injured,” President Harutyunyan said in a statement.
11:01,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. Enterprise Armenia (Investment Support Center) and the Japan Institute for Overseas Investment signed a memorandum of understanding, the Armenian Embassy in Japan said in a statement.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Armenian Ambassador to Japan Areg Hovhannisyan, Enterprise Armenia CEO Levon Ohanesyan, Japan Institute for Overseas Investment Director Toshiyuki Kosugi and representatives of the Japanese embassy in Armenia.
Ambassador Hovhannisyan expressed hope that the memorandum will act as an instrument to deepen the cooperation in investments, strengthening the investment liberalization, promotion and protection agreement signed in 2018 and contributing to revealing existing potential.
The parties agreed to develop an action plan soon and in addition to online meetings also organize mutual-visits and hold in-person meetings.
11:18,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service of Armenia (NSS) is asking the news media and individuals to refrain from spreading unvalidated information and comments on threats of terrorism in Armenia and use exclusively official news to avoid the unnecessary panic among the public.
In a statement, the NSS added that it is fully controlling the security situation in the country.
11:40,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Emergency Situations Armen Pambukhchyan thanked the firefighter-rescuers for their “enormous efforts” in the ongoing search and rescue operations at the Surmalu market in Yerevan.
“For already one day the firefighter-rescuers are making enormous efforts in the ongoing search and rescue and firefighting operation. By risking their lives, they once again proved that they stand by our citizens at any moment. I’d like to express a special gratitude to them for their extraordinary service,” Pambukhchyan, who’s personally been on the scene since August 14 said in a statement.
A strong explosion ripped through the Surmalu market in Yerevan just outside the city center around 13:23, August 14.
The prosecution said the investigators are looking into all possible versions. However the criminal case is opened on Violation of Fire Safety Rules Causing Deaths and Violating of Safety Rules for Storing, Transporting, Using or Supplying Flammable or Incendiary Materials Causing Death.
Initially it was reported that the building which exploded was a fireworks warehouse.
61 people were hospitalized after the blast, but as of August 15 most of them were treated and discharged with 21 still receiving treatment.
15 people are missing.
The death toll in the explosion stands at 6.
11:46,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Armenia offered condolences to the families of the victims of the Surmalu market explosion.
“The Embassy of China in Armenia is expressing deep condolences to the families of those who died and were injured as a result of the explosion in the Surmalu trade center in Yerevan,” the embassy said in a statement.