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June 05, 2014
AGBU YP Lyon Rhône Alpes Conference Explores Investing in Armenia
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Members of YP Lyon Rhône-Alpes gather with Narek Arakelian (second from left), the event speaker and former executive director of Commerce et d’Industrie Franco-Arménienne; Artk Abedi (third from left), director of the Damaris Group; and Vaner Harutunyan (fifth from left), Vice Consul to the Consulate of Armenia in Lyon. Grégory Gazarian, the Chair of YP Lyon Rhône Alpes, stands fourth from left. Photo credit: Vahé Toumanian. -
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Narek Arakelian, the former executive director of Commerce et d’Industrie Franco-Arménienne (CCIFA) gathers with Assia Suchier-Kirakossian, manager of CCIFA in Rhône-Alpes. Photo credit: Vahé Toumanian. -
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Charig Osipian, a member of the YP Lyon Rhône-Alpes Steering Committee, speaks with guest Vaner Harutunyan, Vice Consul to the Consulate of Armenia in Lyon. Photo credit: Vahé Toumanian.
Entrepreneurs and Community Partners Discuss Strategies for Economic Development
A recent conference hosted by the AGBU Young Professionals of Lyon Rhône Alpes (YP Lyon Rhône-Alpes) shed light on the opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs seeking to do business in Armenia. The event, sponsored by Manog Pamkodjian, CEO of the consulting firm Fineco, was organized with Only Lyon, the city’s first branding initiative, which began partnering with the YP group this winter.
The evening’s program and guest list were filled with prominent names of government and industry leaders. Among the 70 attendees were Vaner Harutunyan, Vice Consul of Armenia in Lyon; Artak Abedi, director of the Damaris Group, the business management firm; and Assia Suchier-Kirakossian, manager of the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie Franco-Arménienne (CCIFA) in Rhône-Alpes. Narek Arakelian, CCIFA’s former executive director, was the featured speaker.
Arakelyan provided an overview of Armenia’s current economic and political climate, and of ways entrepreneurs can capitalize on opportunities there while encouraging local development. He presented figures on foreign direct investment by France and other countries, which are driven by Armenia’s favorable foreign investment policies and competitive advantage.
Though business leaders are faced with obstacles—among them, high interest rates and regional conflicts—the potential is there, Arakelyan argued. Grégory Gazarian, the Chair of YP Lyon Rhône Alpes, agreed. He commented: “Though challenges exist that require our attention when doing business in Armenia, emerging markets in the sectors of mining, jewelry and diamonds, as well as textiles and tourism, show a lot of promise for international investors and Armenia’s economy.”
The conference was the second event organized by YP Lyon Rhône-Alpes with Only Lyon, as the two groups continue to strengthen their relationship and help to raise the city’s profile.
To learn more about YP Lyon Rhône-Alpes, email yp.agbu@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/ugab.lyon.
The AGBU Young Professionals is a growing network of groups and supporters around the world who are committed to preserving and promoting the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs for young Armenians between the ages of 22 to 40. For more information, visit www.agbu.org/yp
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