On March 15, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan received the delegation of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, including Director of the Program for the Entrepreneurial Activities of Syrian-Armenian Refugees in Armenia Monica Carco and international expert Somaya Moll.

Greeting the guests, Minister Hranush Hakobyan attached importance to the initiatives of the UNIDO aimed at solving Syrian-Armenians’ issues and the programs targeted at the integration of Syrian-Armenians and the promotion of entrepreneurial activity. “Currently, the major problem of the Syrian-Armenians that we need to solve is employment. I thank you for consolidating the organizations and institutions of all countries around that issue and drawing their attention to the issue. I am pleased with the fact that there is a special approach to the solutions to economic issues. We need to find organizations and institutions that are ready to show support to the solutions to those problems and establish a foundation that the Armenian Diaspora will also be engaged in. Syrian-Armenians have introduced a new culture of doing business in Armenia. They have presented over 100 business plans that need to be implemented,” the Minister particularly stated.

The Minister presented the peculiarities of the activities with Syrian-Armenians, the experience and results and touched upon Syrian-Armenians’ integration, as well as problems with housing, employment and professional training.

Monica Carco expressed gratitude for the cordial reception, provided details about the project proposal for the entrepreneurial activities of Syrian-Armenian refugees in Armenia and expressed willingness to work closely with the Ministry and the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO.