The bank's press-office has informed ArmInfo that along with German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank has launched the implementation of the project "Certification of Organic Agricultural Products". The decision on launching the project was confirmed during the forum that took place on May 22 in Yerevan.
About 150 entrepreneurs participate in the project, which is directed at studying the current situation of organic wholefoods market.
NABU reps, as well as German experts delivered speeches during the forum. They spoke about the international experience in this area, the standards of the European market, as well as opportunities that Armenian certified companies might receive.
In his speech Chief Executive Officer of ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK Hakob Andreasyan has said that the Bank has been actively cooperating with farmers since its establishment. "The Bank's mission is to develop the agricultural sector of Armenia. I can assure you that Armenia's natural and climatic conditions provide the country with the opportunity of producing organic wholefoods of high quality. The point is how to do that and for this reason we are holding these seminars and consultations", he said. A contest for the production of candidates for certification will be held soon. The winners will get free certification with financial support from ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank and NABU.
ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK" CJSC has been operating in Armenia since 1995. Since September 2006, the majority shareholders of the Bank have been Credit Agricole S.A. (15.56%) and SJSC "Sacam International" (part of Credit Agricole S.A - 12.44%). Along with them, 10 agricultural cooperative unions hold shares in the capital of ACBA- CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK. By its branch network the Bank is ranked the second in the Armenian banking system (56 branches, including 41 in the provinces). In 2014, ACBA- CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK was among the top- 5 banks in terms of the key parameters.
The Naturschutzbund Deutschland ("Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union") or NABU is a German non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to conservation at home and abroad, including the protection of rivers, forests and individual species of animals. NABU is one of the largest, most well-known, nature conservation groups in Germany and has worked for over 100 years for man and nature. NABU carries out specific conservation projects, maintains a research institute, runs environmental training and informs the media and public about important topics connected with the environment and nature conservation.