On May 19, the Romanian city of Jas hosted the economic forum of businessmen of Romania and Moldova. The event was organized by the Union of Armenians of Romania, the Armenian community of Moldova and Mikayel Noratunkyan Institution, and RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan expressed her message in a video that was shown during the event, as reported the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Romania to Hayern Aysor.

“I believe a new format has been created. The representatives of both countries, including the leaders of Armenian communities have managed to organize such an event. I hope and am certain that the participants of this forum will express new ideas and approaches that will help further strengthen the relations within the Diaspora and enhance economic cooperation between the two countries. I also believe we will find ways to establish that economic cooperation in Armenia. We are also ready to help the Armenians of Moldova and Romania to start doing business in Armenia,” RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan stated in her video message (watch the video message in its entirety at the end of this article-ed.).

Prefect of Iași Marian Grigoras, Armenia’s Ambassador Hamlet Gasparyan, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iași Paul Butnariu, President of the Union of Armenians of Romania Varujan Vosganian, President of the Armenian community of Moldova Artur Avanyan, President of the Mikayel Noratunkyan Institution Radu Auneanu and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Moldova Tatul Davoyan.

Afterwards, the Armenian, Romanian and Moldovan businessmen presented their products and services, the opportunities for entering the market of each other’s countries and expressed the desire to strengthen business relations with Armenia. In this sense, they attached importance to the direction towards Europe and the opportunities in the Eurasian market. The forum was encouraged by the local authorities and circles of businessmen of Iași and was covered by the local presses and television networks. This was the first economic forum, and the organizers decided to make it ongoing and invite the Armenian businessmen of other countries to the next forums.

During the forum, Varujan Vosganian and Artur Avanyan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Union of Armenians of Romania and the Armenian community of Moldova with the main purpose of creating necessary conditions and supporting each other in order to develop Armenian communities, implement different programs aimed at preserving the Armenian identity and encourage trade and economic relations.

On the morning of that same day, Ambassador Hamlet Gasparyan, with the accompaniment of President of the Union of Armenians of Romania, Senator Varujan Vosganian, met with Prefect of Iași Marian Grigoras and Mayor of Iași Mihai Chirica. During the meetings, the sides discussed the opportunities for the enlargement of decentralized relations, taking into consideration the experience, as well as the tremendous amount of contributions that Armenians have been making to the development of Iași and all historic Moldova since the 14^th century.