On April 27, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan received Lebanon’s State Minister for Planning Affairs Michel Pharaon, his wife and the accompanying delegation.

Greeting the guest, Minister Hranush Hakobyan attached importance to the Lebanese Minister’s visit to Armenia and particularly stated the following: “Your visit will open new routes in the relations between Armenia and Lebanon in both the management and business sectors. One of the objectives of the Ministry of Diaspora is to inform Diaspora Armenians about Armenia’s investment policy and laws. We have posted more than 100 business plans on our website and will be trying to disseminate them about our international friends as well. We need to promote the growth of tourism between Lebanon and Armenia. We need to present Armenia’s advantages to the Lebanese.”

Michel Pharaon expressed gratitude for the cordial reception and stressed that he visits Armenia with pleasure and excitement. “This is my second visit to Armenia. My first visit was in 1999. This time, I am more impressed. I noticed a couple of important things in Armenia-safety and political stability. Armenia has improved conditions for investors. There has to be cooperation between the public and private sectors. Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union and the free economic zone with Iran are important for the country’s economic development. The practical relations with Armenia are preferable for Lebanese businessmen. There is a need to organize an economic forum to discuss all these issues,” he noted.

Issues related to accommodations for Syrian refugees and the paths for solutions to their educational and health-related issues were also discussed, and importance was attached to the strengthening of Armenian-Lebanese relations and cooperation in the economic, educational and cultural sectors.