ArmInfo.Yerevan and Vienna announced an Armenian- Austrian business forum with the participation of representatives of 20 Austrian companies.
As was reported at the joint press conference of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Austria, Ararat Mirzoyan and Alexander Schallenberg, the business forum is scheduled tomorrow, on February 3, in Yerevan.
During his opening speech, the Armenian Foreign Minister noted that a high-profile business delegation arrived in Yerevan together with the Austrian Foreign Minister today, which will take part in the forum tomorrow. "The visit of my Austrian counterpart coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. Numerous programs have been implemented over the past three decades, there is a serious experience of cooperation in the political, economic, cultural sectors. However, I should state that the full potential has not been used, but there is hope that the visit will be an incentive to move to the next stage of relations," Mirzoyan said.
He also informed that during Schallenberg's visit, an office of the Austrian Development Agency would also be opened, which would also become one of the important elements of cooperation.
As Mirzoyan said, during the conversation with his Austrian counterpart, bilateral issues, the situation in the region and in the world were touched upon. "I informed my Austrian counterpart about the processes in the region, the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the situation on the border, the dialogue with Azerbaijan and Turkey. The Austrian Foreign Minister welcomes and supports the format of the OSCE Minsk Group and efforts to find ways to resolve the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and expresses assistance solution of all humanitarian issues, first of all, the release of prisoners of war and the protection of cultural heritage," he summed up.
In turn, Schallenberg noted that this is his second visit to Armenia over the past 12 months. "Last time I was accompanied by my counterparts from Lithuania and Romania. On behalf of the EU, we conveyed a clear message that we would like to see and contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the South Caucasus. Now I am here within the framework of a bilateral format, and my message is also clear - we will continue to assist the region and Armenia, we are interested and confident that the region has great potential," he said.
At the same time, he stated that the opening of the office of the Austrian Development Agency in Yerevan gives them more space on the map of Armenia and the region and is a reflection of cooperation. "Since 2011, Armenia has been a partner country in the context of development assistance, but it is not only about development. You mentioned important processes in the region, and I support them. Last time I was here in June 2021. The mood has changed since then became more encouraging. And I believe that there is a potential, a perspective," he said.
In response to his counterpart, Mirzoyan once again stressed that the Austrian business delegation includes representatives of 20 companies, the parties expect the forum to be fruitful. "Armenia has a competitive market, and the country's authorities are waging an uncompromising fight against corruption. This creates the necessary conditions for Austrian companies," the RA Foreign Minister summed up.
