Tweet
GEOPROMINING INVESTS $1,5MN TO ARMENIAN SOCIAL PROJECTS IN 2011
/ARKA/
FEBRUARY 10, 2012
YEREVAN
The exclusive interview of GeoProMining - GPM company president Roman
Khudoly with "ARKA" news agency.
"ARKA"- Mr. Khudoly, what funds does the company injects into
implementing social programs in Armenia?
R. Khudoly- The company continues developing its active operation
on the enterprises in Armenia, Georgia, and Russia that is estimated
through the company's careful attitude to its staff and the residents
who live in the regions where these enterprises work. The total
amount of GPM Gold's and Agarak copper-molybdenum plant's social
investments in 2011 hit more than $1.5 million in Armenia.Also the
company permanently interacts with the State authorities as well as
local administrations that allows GPM to respond advertently to the
needs of the residents in the regions, where the company operates, and
to inject charity funds into the projects which are more actual for
the local population. The company regularly finances social projects
targeted at the infrastructure development, fire and rescue services,
energy and water supply, repair of hospitals, schools, kindergartens.
Also one of the GPM social activity priorities is to traditionally
support the socially vulnerable population groups.
We have regardfully analysed the projects of the last year and
received recommendations from the international specialists working
in the sphere of corporate social responsibility (CSR), after what
we consulted local administrations to determine the most urgent needs
of the local population.
This information appeared as a basis for composing 2012 budget. We
will keep on developing the principal course of our " Resources
for the benefit" corporate program paying special attention to the
projects directed to working with our staff and their families as
well as ecology issues.
"ARKA"- Would you, please, depict in more details the goals and
implementation process of "Resources for the benefit" program?
R. Khudoly- Keeping in mind that the sustainable development is one of
GPM main strategic principles, we shifted in 2011 from non-methodical
projects to systematic ones within Corporate Social Responsibility. As
a result the company launched "Resources for the benefit" complex
program.
The program embraces all the aspects of social responsibility
that includes the attentive attitude to the staff, minimization
of environmental impact, concern about local communities and close
interaction with the State authorities in the scope of social-economic
development. These spheres will become the CSR priorities of the
company in 2012.
"ARKA"- Which structures does the company cooperate with while
implementing its social projects?
R. Khudoly- During several years GPM in cooperation with Social
investment Fund of the Armenian government, which implements World
Bank projects in the country, has been realizing projects aimed at
the social development of the regions.
The agreement endorsed between GPM and Fund as well as administration
of Ararat region on February 8 authorizes implementation of the
charity project directed to building a kindergarten. This project was
initiated by the president of Armenia Serge Sargsyan on his visit to
Ararat region in the middle of the last year to respond to the needs
of the region's residents.
Thus, the kids are already expected to have a new kindergarten in the
beginning of 2013 due to Social Investments Fund and $250 thousand
investments by GPM.
GPM also supports local administrations to organize different
environment protection events as well as create improved and favourable
conditions for residents in Vardenis, Ararat and Agarak.
In 2011 significant funds were spent on the purchase of garbage
equipment and snow removal trucks. In 2012 we plan to buy sweeper
trucks for keeping town streets clean.
"ARKA"- What kind of social projects and facilities does the company
offer to the workers on its enterprises?
R. Khudoly- Currently 815 people work in GPM Gold company which
explores Sotsk gold mining and runs Ararat Gold Recovery Factory.
After we launch the new trend in the factory, based on the unique
modern technology "Albion," the construction of which started in 2011,
we can hire more people. Agarak copper- molybdenum plant employs 930
workers. GPM enterprises in Armenia are specialized in single-industry
and provide with jobs 70-80% of the working- age population in Agarak,
Vardenis, and Ararat.
The company acts as a responsible employer: our wage is one of the
highest in this field. We often organize qualification trainings for
the workers with different specializations. It helps to stimulate their
professional development. Our employees receive an appropriate social
package and get annual medical examination in the best medical centres
of the country. The company organizes also bright New Year celebrations
as well as sport and cultural events for the children of our workers.
"ARKA" - Does the company follow ecological norms while implementing
its projects?
R. Khudoly- Any industrial production has an impact on environment
and our company's responsibility is to try to minimize that negative
impact. We regularly check the level of impact on the environment
and take a regardful look at following all the normative indicators.
Every event that is targeted to the company's development is organized
only after we have detailed consultations with the specialists scoping
in the environment protection sphere. Our main priority is to do our
work in accordance with the legislature.
Events organized in the frame of the industry modernization program
respond to the best international ecological standards. This is proved
by the fact that the world best ecology experts from such companies as
Fraser Alexander, Epoch E Digby Wells Environment participate in our
project. The new unique and modern technology "Albion" which will be
exploited in Ararat Gold Recovery Factory, corresponds to the world
best ecological standards.
"ARKA"- Does the company organize any cultural or educational events?
R.Khudoly- GPM pays great attention to preserving national traditions,
culture and art in all the regions it operates. We were one of the
general sponsors of the celebrations dedicated to the 20th anniversary
of independence in Armenia. The company also actively participated
in organizing and preparing celebration events.
When visiting Yerevan GPM administration never misses the opportunity
to get introduced with the historical heritage of the Armenian nation.
At the end of the last year when I visited Armenia with Siman
Viktorovich ( Siman Povarenkin, the chairman of GPM Board of Directors
- "ARKA") we had a chance to go to National History Museum and get
introduced to the exposition dedicated to the Armenian mining history.
Being an international company, GPM participates enthusiastically
in the projects goaled to strengthen mutual understanding and
expansion within the international cooperation between Russia and
Armenia. Since 2009 the company has been backing the project on Russian
language knowledge improvement in Armenia, which is implemented by
the Charitable Foundation for Russian Language promotion under the
auspices of the Embassy of Russian Federation in Armenia.
GPM finances opening computer classrooms for interactive teaching
of Russian language. The classrooms are equipped with the modern
technical tools for communication and detailed teaching books. This
charity project promotes Russian language learning as well as its
spread and popularization in Armenia as an inseparable part of the
world culture, present instrument of international communication and
CIS business language as well as economic cooperation development
between Armenia and Russia.
GPM in cooperation with Russian Embassy also backs Russian Drama
Theater after K. Stanislavsky in Yerevan, which is one of the brightest
cultural establishments in Yerevan and a popular place for staging
Armenian and Russian playwrights' works. In December 2011 the theater
showed the first night of Sergey Dovlatov's play "Abanamat".
The staging became possible due to financing made by the company.
/ARKA/
FEBRUARY 10, 2012
YEREVAN
The exclusive interview of GeoProMining - GPM company president Roman
Khudoly with "ARKA" news agency.
"ARKA"- Mr. Khudoly, what funds does the company injects into
implementing social programs in Armenia?
R. Khudoly- The company continues developing its active operation
on the enterprises in Armenia, Georgia, and Russia that is estimated
through the company's careful attitude to its staff and the residents
who live in the regions where these enterprises work. The total
amount of GPM Gold's and Agarak copper-molybdenum plant's social
investments in 2011 hit more than $1.5 million in Armenia.Also the
company permanently interacts with the State authorities as well as
local administrations that allows GPM to respond advertently to the
needs of the residents in the regions, where the company operates, and
to inject charity funds into the projects which are more actual for
the local population. The company regularly finances social projects
targeted at the infrastructure development, fire and rescue services,
energy and water supply, repair of hospitals, schools, kindergartens.
Also one of the GPM social activity priorities is to traditionally
support the socially vulnerable population groups.
We have regardfully analysed the projects of the last year and
received recommendations from the international specialists working
in the sphere of corporate social responsibility (CSR), after what
we consulted local administrations to determine the most urgent needs
of the local population.
This information appeared as a basis for composing 2012 budget. We
will keep on developing the principal course of our " Resources
for the benefit" corporate program paying special attention to the
projects directed to working with our staff and their families as
well as ecology issues.
"ARKA"- Would you, please, depict in more details the goals and
implementation process of "Resources for the benefit" program?
R. Khudoly- Keeping in mind that the sustainable development is one of
GPM main strategic principles, we shifted in 2011 from non-methodical
projects to systematic ones within Corporate Social Responsibility. As
a result the company launched "Resources for the benefit" complex
program.
The program embraces all the aspects of social responsibility
that includes the attentive attitude to the staff, minimization
of environmental impact, concern about local communities and close
interaction with the State authorities in the scope of social-economic
development. These spheres will become the CSR priorities of the
company in 2012.
"ARKA"- Which structures does the company cooperate with while
implementing its social projects?
R. Khudoly- During several years GPM in cooperation with Social
investment Fund of the Armenian government, which implements World
Bank projects in the country, has been realizing projects aimed at
the social development of the regions.
The agreement endorsed between GPM and Fund as well as administration
of Ararat region on February 8 authorizes implementation of the
charity project directed to building a kindergarten. This project was
initiated by the president of Armenia Serge Sargsyan on his visit to
Ararat region in the middle of the last year to respond to the needs
of the region's residents.
Thus, the kids are already expected to have a new kindergarten in the
beginning of 2013 due to Social Investments Fund and $250 thousand
investments by GPM.
GPM also supports local administrations to organize different
environment protection events as well as create improved and favourable
conditions for residents in Vardenis, Ararat and Agarak.
In 2011 significant funds were spent on the purchase of garbage
equipment and snow removal trucks. In 2012 we plan to buy sweeper
trucks for keeping town streets clean.
"ARKA"- What kind of social projects and facilities does the company
offer to the workers on its enterprises?
R. Khudoly- Currently 815 people work in GPM Gold company which
explores Sotsk gold mining and runs Ararat Gold Recovery Factory.
After we launch the new trend in the factory, based on the unique
modern technology "Albion," the construction of which started in 2011,
we can hire more people. Agarak copper- molybdenum plant employs 930
workers. GPM enterprises in Armenia are specialized in single-industry
and provide with jobs 70-80% of the working- age population in Agarak,
Vardenis, and Ararat.
The company acts as a responsible employer: our wage is one of the
highest in this field. We often organize qualification trainings for
the workers with different specializations. It helps to stimulate their
professional development. Our employees receive an appropriate social
package and get annual medical examination in the best medical centres
of the country. The company organizes also bright New Year celebrations
as well as sport and cultural events for the children of our workers.
"ARKA" - Does the company follow ecological norms while implementing
its projects?
R. Khudoly- Any industrial production has an impact on environment
and our company's responsibility is to try to minimize that negative
impact. We regularly check the level of impact on the environment
and take a regardful look at following all the normative indicators.
Every event that is targeted to the company's development is organized
only after we have detailed consultations with the specialists scoping
in the environment protection sphere. Our main priority is to do our
work in accordance with the legislature.
Events organized in the frame of the industry modernization program
respond to the best international ecological standards. This is proved
by the fact that the world best ecology experts from such companies as
Fraser Alexander, Epoch E Digby Wells Environment participate in our
project. The new unique and modern technology "Albion" which will be
exploited in Ararat Gold Recovery Factory, corresponds to the world
best ecological standards.
"ARKA"- Does the company organize any cultural or educational events?
R.Khudoly- GPM pays great attention to preserving national traditions,
culture and art in all the regions it operates. We were one of the
general sponsors of the celebrations dedicated to the 20th anniversary
of independence in Armenia. The company also actively participated
in organizing and preparing celebration events.
When visiting Yerevan GPM administration never misses the opportunity
to get introduced with the historical heritage of the Armenian nation.
At the end of the last year when I visited Armenia with Siman
Viktorovich ( Siman Povarenkin, the chairman of GPM Board of Directors
- "ARKA") we had a chance to go to National History Museum and get
introduced to the exposition dedicated to the Armenian mining history.
Being an international company, GPM participates enthusiastically
in the projects goaled to strengthen mutual understanding and
expansion within the international cooperation between Russia and
Armenia. Since 2009 the company has been backing the project on Russian
language knowledge improvement in Armenia, which is implemented by
the Charitable Foundation for Russian Language promotion under the
auspices of the Embassy of Russian Federation in Armenia.
GPM finances opening computer classrooms for interactive teaching
of Russian language. The classrooms are equipped with the modern
technical tools for communication and detailed teaching books. This
charity project promotes Russian language learning as well as its
spread and popularization in Armenia as an inseparable part of the
world culture, present instrument of international communication and
CIS business language as well as economic cooperation development
between Armenia and Russia.
GPM in cooperation with Russian Embassy also backs Russian Drama
Theater after K. Stanislavsky in Yerevan, which is one of the brightest
cultural establishments in Yerevan and a popular place for staging
Armenian and Russian playwrights' works. In December 2011 the theater
showed the first night of Sergey Dovlatov's play "Abanamat".
The staging became possible due to financing made by the company.