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American firms based in Armenia call for U.S. Trade Agreement
12:33 08.12.2012
http://www.armradio.am/en/2012/12/08/american-firms-based-in-armenia-call-for-u-s-trade-agreement/
A broad range of American companies doing business in Armenia,
including Microsoft, FedEx, and NASDAQ, have, in letters shared with
the U.S. Embassy, called upon the Obama Administration to take
concrete action prioritizing the growth of U.S.-Armenia economic
relations through the negotiation of a bilateral Trade and Investment
Framework Agreement (TIFA).
These firms employ thousands in Armenia and world-wide, generate tens
of millions of dollars in revenues, and are engines of progress,
friendship, and cooperation for both nations. Among those joining
with Microsoft, FedEx, and NASDAQ in petitioning for a TIFA were:
Marriott, Ameria Banking Group, Prudence Legal Advisory and
Counseling, Grant Thornton, Baker Tilley Armenia, Synergy, Tufenkian
Heritage Hotels, Altacode, Leda Campus LLC, Levon Travel, Unicomp,
Synopsys, Megerian Carpet, National Instruments, Mentor Graphics,
First Mortgage, Geoteam, Hylink, LC Distribution, and Linkgard
Systems.
The Armenian government has long been on record requesting that its
U.S. partners join with them in negotiating a TIFA, as well as a
much-needed Double Tax Treaty. The American Chamber of Commerce in
Armenia, through the active leadership of its Chairman, Edward
Mouradian and professional support from its Executive Director Diana
Gaziyan, has played a vital role in giving voice to the public policy
priorities of the U.S. business community in Armenia. Many members of
the U.S. Congress have expressed their support for a U.S.-Armenia
TIFA, as has the Armenian National Committee of America. President
Obama, for his part, promised, during his 2008 campaign, to foster
expanded trade with Armenia. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John
Heffern, during his confirmation process, also spoke of his interest
in expanding the U.S.-Armenia trade relationship.
Beyond reinforcing the strong cultural bonds between the American and
Armenian peoples, these corporations, in their letters, pointed out
that the creation of a TIFA platform for ongoing bilateral economic
dialogue would help facilitate a broad range of benefits to both the
United States and Armenia, including:
- Improving the investment climate, identifying priority areas for
growth, and building trade capacity
- Addressing regional trade issues, including the special hardships
faced by Armenia due to the blockades imposed on its borders by Turkey
and Azerbaija
- Streamlining customs systems, and increasing the transparency of
governmental processes related to imports and exports
- Discussing the effectiveness of current programs in Armenia of the
U.S. Export-Import Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and
U.S. Trade and Development Agency
- Expanding agricultural trade and investment
- Growing the level of trade in services, including banking,
insurance, and tourism
- Promoting Diasporan trade and investment, with a special focus on
expanding Armenian American trade and investment partnerships with
Armenia
- Improving Armenia's use of U.S. Generalized System of Preferences benefits
- Addressing any outstanding problems in the area of intellectual
property rights
- Exploring ways to deepen future U.S.-Armenia trade and investment
In their letters, these firms stressed their interest in building upon
a TIFA platform through additional bilateral accords, notably a Double
Tax Treaty, a Social Security Agreement, and, ultimately, a Free Trade
Agreement.
Copies of the letters, addressed to President Obama, were handed to
Ambassador Heffern today during his meetings with Armenian American
organizations and community members in the Los Angeles area.
Ambassador Heffern is participating in a series of community outreach
meetings and town halls in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and New
York.
The level of U.S. leadership in promoting trade and investment with
Armenia was the subject of a recent, widely-circulated Asbarez
editorial: No Effort or Progress on Fostering U.S.-Armenia Trade and
Investment:
12:33 08.12.2012
http://www.armradio.am/en/2012/12/08/american-firms-based-in-armenia-call-for-u-s-trade-agreement/
A broad range of American companies doing business in Armenia,
including Microsoft, FedEx, and NASDAQ, have, in letters shared with
the U.S. Embassy, called upon the Obama Administration to take
concrete action prioritizing the growth of U.S.-Armenia economic
relations through the negotiation of a bilateral Trade and Investment
Framework Agreement (TIFA).
These firms employ thousands in Armenia and world-wide, generate tens
of millions of dollars in revenues, and are engines of progress,
friendship, and cooperation for both nations. Among those joining
with Microsoft, FedEx, and NASDAQ in petitioning for a TIFA were:
Marriott, Ameria Banking Group, Prudence Legal Advisory and
Counseling, Grant Thornton, Baker Tilley Armenia, Synergy, Tufenkian
Heritage Hotels, Altacode, Leda Campus LLC, Levon Travel, Unicomp,
Synopsys, Megerian Carpet, National Instruments, Mentor Graphics,
First Mortgage, Geoteam, Hylink, LC Distribution, and Linkgard
Systems.
The Armenian government has long been on record requesting that its
U.S. partners join with them in negotiating a TIFA, as well as a
much-needed Double Tax Treaty. The American Chamber of Commerce in
Armenia, through the active leadership of its Chairman, Edward
Mouradian and professional support from its Executive Director Diana
Gaziyan, has played a vital role in giving voice to the public policy
priorities of the U.S. business community in Armenia. Many members of
the U.S. Congress have expressed their support for a U.S.-Armenia
TIFA, as has the Armenian National Committee of America. President
Obama, for his part, promised, during his 2008 campaign, to foster
expanded trade with Armenia. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John
Heffern, during his confirmation process, also spoke of his interest
in expanding the U.S.-Armenia trade relationship.
Beyond reinforcing the strong cultural bonds between the American and
Armenian peoples, these corporations, in their letters, pointed out
that the creation of a TIFA platform for ongoing bilateral economic
dialogue would help facilitate a broad range of benefits to both the
United States and Armenia, including:
- Improving the investment climate, identifying priority areas for
growth, and building trade capacity
- Addressing regional trade issues, including the special hardships
faced by Armenia due to the blockades imposed on its borders by Turkey
and Azerbaija
- Streamlining customs systems, and increasing the transparency of
governmental processes related to imports and exports
- Discussing the effectiveness of current programs in Armenia of the
U.S. Export-Import Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and
U.S. Trade and Development Agency
- Expanding agricultural trade and investment
- Growing the level of trade in services, including banking,
insurance, and tourism
- Promoting Diasporan trade and investment, with a special focus on
expanding Armenian American trade and investment partnerships with
Armenia
- Improving Armenia's use of U.S. Generalized System of Preferences benefits
- Addressing any outstanding problems in the area of intellectual
property rights
- Exploring ways to deepen future U.S.-Armenia trade and investment
In their letters, these firms stressed their interest in building upon
a TIFA platform through additional bilateral accords, notably a Double
Tax Treaty, a Social Security Agreement, and, ultimately, a Free Trade
Agreement.
Copies of the letters, addressed to President Obama, were handed to
Ambassador Heffern today during his meetings with Armenian American
organizations and community members in the Los Angeles area.
Ambassador Heffern is participating in a series of community outreach
meetings and town halls in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and New
York.
The level of U.S. leadership in promoting trade and investment with
Armenia was the subject of a recent, widely-circulated Asbarez
editorial: No Effort or Progress on Fostering U.S.-Armenia Trade and
Investment: