OPENING ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN AT THE MEETING WITH THE BRASILIAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Support A1+!Ladies and Gentlemen,
I strongly hope that our today’s meeting with the Brazilian business community will trigger interest towards doing business with Armenia. I thank you for accepting the invitation to come and share with us your views and, hopefully, intentions for promoting business relations between our two countries.
Armenia views the adjustment of its political, economic and legal systems to the standards of democratic Europe as a strong leverage to ensure the development of our country. Given the present results of our economic and democratic reforms, the levels of political stability and the rule of law, we are confident, that Armenia will be the most organised country in the region. The Government remains committed to its policies of attracting foreign direct investments to our economy. In the course of our accession process to the World Trade Organisation we have already enacted a substantial package of legislative regulations to provide liberal trade regime and non-interventionist government policies. The continuation of reforms and the upgrading of our laws and standards for economic activities to European norms will continue to be among the dominant priorities of the Government of Armenia.
The Government will continue to make a strong input and to encourage capital investments in further development of infrastructures, including roads, aviation, irrigation systems, telecommunications and the energy sector. We view the private capital as the backbone of modernisation for the aviation, telecommunications and energy sectors. The private sector is already the driving force behind the growth of the Armenian economy. At present 75 percent of our gross domestic product (GDP) is produced in the private sector.
The numerous Armenian Diaspora around the world is an invaluable asset for Armenia. Our Diaspora has at all times been an indispensable bridge between Armenia and their host countries. I am proud that most of them have acquired a reputation of loyal citizens, hardworking people and successful businessmen. There is no doubt that if Armenians can do it elsewhere, they can do it in their own home.
The Government is strongly determined to successfully accomplish the implementation of a comprehensive programme against corruption and shadow economy. The programme incorporates legislative and practical measures to reform the civil service, provide better regulation of tax and customs policies and effective implementation of social protection programmes.
The nature and direction of transformation in Armenia enjoys the support of the majority of the Armenian public. The values of democracy and free economy are firmly entrenched in Armenia. It makes our country a reliable and predictable partner in the international community. I would like to conclude by expressing strong hope that in the near future the traditionally good relations between Armenia and Brazil will be consolidated by a considerable engagement of our business communities in it.
