On June 28, the RA Ministry of Diaspora hosted a teleconference with representatives of the Armenian Trade Network (ATN), as well as the Belgium-Armenia and Portugal-Armenia Chambers of Commerce.

Among the participants from the ATN, Belgium-Armenia and Portugal-Armenia Chambers of Commerce were President of the ATN Alec Baghdassarian (USA), Chairman of the Belgium-Armenia Chamber of Commerce Valery Safaryan, Vice-Chairman Felix Paytyan, ATN member Vahram Pirjanian (Canada), Chairman of Portugal-Armenia Chamber of Commerce Vahe Mkhitaryan and Director of Finland’s Hayas OY Company Abgar Margaryan.

Among the participants from the RA Ministry of Diaspora were RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Vahagn Melikyan, Advisor to the Minister Stepan Petrosyan, Head of the Department for Armenian Communities of Europe Karen Avanesyan and other employees of the Ministry.

Greeting the participants of the teleconference, Deputy Minister Vahagn Melikyan presented the scope of the topics for discussion.

President of the ATN Alec Baghdassarian cordially greeted all the participants, attached importance to teleconferences and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Diaspora and particularly to Minister Hranush Hakobyan for supporting the ATN’s structures operating in different countries and for fostering the strengthening of relations and the enhancement of cooperation between those structures.

Organizational issues for the participation of the structures of the Armenian Trade Network in the 6^th Armenia-Diaspora Pan-Armenian Conference to be held from September 18 to 20 were considered, and the main areas and panel sessions of the conference were presented.

The enlargement of the ATN (engagement of new interested parties and business structures) was touched upon.

The sides also discussed issues on the presentation of business plans for investments in Armenia and Artsakh by the ATN during the conference.

Chairman of the Portugal-Armenia Chamber of Commerce Vahe Mkhitaryan expressed his satisfaction with participation in the teleconference and with the engagement in the economic development of Armenia and voiced hope that the cooperation between the Armenian chambers of commerce would be more effective in the future.

Summing up the teleconference, Deputy Minister Vahagn Melikyan gave clarifications, answered the participants’ questions and expressed gratitude for the active participation.