ArmInfo. On January 15, an Armenian-Turkmen business forum, organized by the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Armenia, took place in Yerevan.
According to the press service of the Armenian Embassy in Turkmenistan, the event was dedicated to discussing prospects for developing economic cooperation between Armenia and Turkmenistan, as well as promoting the expansion of bilateral business ties.
The forum was held as part of the business mission of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan and brought together representatives of the business communities of the two countries. The event was attended by entrepreneurs and experts from agriculture, light industry, logistics, jewelry, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and other economic sectors.
Welcoming the forum participants, Nerses Karamanukyan, Vice President of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Armenia, noted the areas in which bilateral trade and economic relations have previously been actively developing. In particular, he recalled that in the early years of independence, Armenia imported natural gas from Turkmenistan, which contributed to the intensive development of mutual trade. After the cessation of gas supplies, trade volumes declined, but positive trends have been observed again in recent years. According to him, there is significant potential for cooperation between the two countries, and such business forums can become an effective tool for further expanding trade and economic ties in such sectors as energy, jewelry, textiles, tourism, agriculture, construction, and others.
During his speech, Nerses Karamanukyan also presented the structure, mission, and main activities of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Armenia.
Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome and the high level of organization of the forum, the head of the Turkmen delegation, Begench Arazov, a member of the Council of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, presented the activities of the organization, which unites over 30,000 members and covers all sectors of the economy. He outlined priority areas of cooperation of interest to Turkmen entrepreneurs, including the procurement of Turkmen products, as well as the export and import of Armenian goods to the Turkmen market, particularly jewelry, alcoholic beverages, and canned fruits and vegetables. Interest was also expressed in developing cooperation in information technology and tourism, as well as in implementing joint projects. The head of the delegation expressed confidence that holding the business forum in Yerevan will give new impetus to deepening trade and economic ties between the two countries.
Speaking at the forum's opening, Edgar Zakaryan, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, emphasized that the current stage of bilateral economic relations requires practical solutions and the application of new cooperation tools. In this context, he stated, the business forum is particularly important as an effective platform for establishing concrete interactions and implementing joint initiatives. He noted that recent indicators demonstrate positive dynamics in Armenian-Turkmen cooperation, the formation of a certain specialization in mutual trade, and the existence of significant potential for diversifying the product structure and developing new areas of partnership. Speaking about the Armenian government's economic policy, the Deputy Minister identified export diversification as a key priority, both in terms of product mix and supply geography. He noted that Turkmenistan is of significant interest given its manufacturing, agricultural, and logistical potential, as well as its stable demand for a wide range of products. He emphasized Turkmenistan's competitive advantages in cotton and textile production, which creates additional opportunities for the formation of cooperative chains, joint production, and the expansion of intercompany cooperation.
Satenik Adamyan, Investment Promotion and External Relations Manager at Enterprise Armenia, presented Armenia's investment and industrial environment.
During the forum, participants were shown a video dedicated to Turkmenistan's economic potential. Furthermore, business representatives had the opportunity to discuss specific issues and prospects for cooperation during business-to-business (B2B) negotiations.
G. Khemrayeva, Charge d'Affaires of Turkmenistan in the Republic of Armenia, and representatives of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia also participated in the forum.
