Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Van province is interested in the development of tourism in Armenia, specifically, Akhtamar Island.
As RA Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Araik Vardanyan told a news conference in Yerevan, Van province Chamber of Commerce and Industry offered to establish active collaboration in the sphere of tourism, even before Armenia-Turkey rapprochement issue is given political resolution.
Commenting on Armenia-Turkey border opening consequences, Araik Vardanyan disagreed with opinion that cheap Turkish goods will littler the Armenian market. “Armenian market is very small, so the goods, capable of working it up have already done so. Price decrease is more likely in case of border opening,” he said, adding in this context that product turnover between Armenia and Turkey comprises USD 300 million.
As Araik Vardanyan informed, in February 2010, RA Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Martin Sargsyan scheduled a visit to Istanbul. During his visit, the chairman will meet representatives of a major Turkish company in order to sign collaboration agreement.
In October, 2001 National Assembly of RA passed the Law on Chambers of Commerce and Industry establishing for the first time in the history of Armenia, Chamber of Commerce and Industry new legal organizational mode, distinctly regulating Chamber of Commerce and Industry systems (Chambers), Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Armenia and the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Regional Chambers) activities. By the aforesaid Law, Chamber goal and objective subjects included the protection of businessmen rights in the matters relating to economic activity, coordination of interrelation between Government bodies and businessmen, upgrading necessary business personnel, peaceful settlement of disputes caused by businessmen and respective organizations. The Law provides CCI RA with exclusive rights in the settlement of business issues, including situation with insuperable obstacle (force majeure) as well as Statement on Reliability of trade companies. According to the Government Decree, CCI RA was granted with a number of privileges to organize exhibitions in Armenia, particularly, in respect of International Exhibitions and Trade Fairs, which are organized in Armenia by the Chamber. Mainly, some batches of goods imported to Armenia for exhibition purposes are duty free.
In April 2002, CCI RA convened its first founding meeting and in May 2005, the second meeting was convened subsequently. The latter provided a well-grounded evaluation on CCI RA activities for the period covered and set objectives for future action aimed at the improvement of business related issues, international cooperation.
In June 2005, the Law “on making alterations and supplements in the Law on Chambers of Commerce and Industry” was adopted, providing Chambers with a number of supplementary liabilities. Particularly, the liability duration of CCI RA President and Regional Chambers as well as the Presidium members was established 5 years instead of previously decided 3 years. CCI RA Presidium has acquired the right to express non-confidence to the President of Regional Chamber for the violation or default of Charter requirements.
In 2006 semi annual, CCI RA and Regional Chambers held special sessions where following the provisions of RA Law on making alterations and supplements in the Law on Chambers of Commerce and Industry, new edition of regulations was endorsed.
