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ANCA CALLS FOR INCREASED U.S. AID AND TRADE WITH ARMENIA
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/01/18/anca-calls-for-increased-u-s-aid-and-trade-with-armenia/
12:12 18.01.2013
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), citing a recent
round of positive third-party evaluations of Armenia's progress
across a broad array of economic indicators, has called on members
of the newly installed 113th Congress to both appropriate increased
economic assistance for Armenia and to expand programs to promote
U.S.-Armenia bilateral trade and investment.
Among the favorable findings referenced by the ANCA, in a letter sent
this week to legislative offices calling for expanded trade promotion
and increased assistance to Armenia, were the following:
- The World Bank, in its 2013 Doing Business report, ranked Armenia
#32 worldwide in terms of overall ease of doing business, #11 for
ease of starting a business, and #4 for ease of registering property.
- The Wall Street Journal/Heritage Foundation's 2013 Index of Economic
Freedom rates Armenia #38 worldwide, and #17 among the 43 European
states, ahead of Belgium, France, and Spain.
- The World Economic Forum's 2012 Global Enabling Trade Report
ranks Armenia #13 worldwide for market access and #59 in terms of
the overall extent to which it has developed institutions, policies,
and services facilitating the free flow of goods over borders.
- Price Waterhouse Cooper, in its most recent Doing Business in
Armenia guide, reported that, "Armenia encourages foreign trade and
investment," and that, "[s]urveys suggest that Armenia is a relatively
easy country in which to do business."
- The Millennium Challenge Corporation's 2013 scorecard reports that
Armenia is rated in the 97th percentile in terms of both favorable
trade policy and business start up, and in the 91st percentile with
regard to regulatory quality.
- Freedom House, in its 2013 report on Freedom in the World, upgraded
Armenia to a 5 rating for political rights.
In addition to these favorable indicators, Armenia has been a strong
security partner for the United States, having sent troops to support
U.S.-led coalition efforts in Iraq, to assist NATO operations in
Afghanistan, and to take part in international peacekeeping in Kosovo.
In terms of trade promotion, the ANCA - along with the American Chamber
of Commerce in Armenia and major corporations, including Microsoft,
FedEx, and NASDAQ - have called on the U.S. government to respond
favorably to the Armenian government's interest in negotiating a
badly-needed U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
and a long-overdue Double Tax Treaty. The ANCA looks to the Obama
Administration to honor the President's commitments to expand
U.S.-Armenia trade and investment, and is calling upon Congress to
support the growth of mutually beneficial economic bilateral relations.
The legislative memo noted that, "it is in this spirit, and upon
the solid foundation and friendship of the past two decades, that
we call upon you to support the appropriation of increased economic
assistance for Armenia and the expansion of programs to promote
mutually beneficial U.S-Armenia bilateral trade and investment
(such as a badly-needed U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework
Agreement and a long-overdue Double Tax Treaty)."
The level of U.S. aid to Armenia, which hit a high of $174 million
in Fiscal Year 2003, has been steadily declining over the past two
decades, as a result of both calls by successive Administrations for
cuts, and growing Congressional pressure for reductions in spending.
The Obama Administration, which came into office with aid levels at
more than $60 million, has, despite the President's campaign pledge
to maintain assistance to Armenia, sought reductions in the Armenia
aid program. The overall economic and military aid level for Armenia
in the most recent appropriations cycle is less than $45 million. The
ANCA is asking for at least $50 million in FY2014 aid to Armenia. The
President's proposed FY14 budget will be released in the coming weeks.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/01/18/anca-calls-for-increased-u-s-aid-and-trade-with-armenia/
12:12 18.01.2013
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), citing a recent
round of positive third-party evaluations of Armenia's progress
across a broad array of economic indicators, has called on members
of the newly installed 113th Congress to both appropriate increased
economic assistance for Armenia and to expand programs to promote
U.S.-Armenia bilateral trade and investment.
Among the favorable findings referenced by the ANCA, in a letter sent
this week to legislative offices calling for expanded trade promotion
and increased assistance to Armenia, were the following:
- The World Bank, in its 2013 Doing Business report, ranked Armenia
#32 worldwide in terms of overall ease of doing business, #11 for
ease of starting a business, and #4 for ease of registering property.
- The Wall Street Journal/Heritage Foundation's 2013 Index of Economic
Freedom rates Armenia #38 worldwide, and #17 among the 43 European
states, ahead of Belgium, France, and Spain.
- The World Economic Forum's 2012 Global Enabling Trade Report
ranks Armenia #13 worldwide for market access and #59 in terms of
the overall extent to which it has developed institutions, policies,
and services facilitating the free flow of goods over borders.
- Price Waterhouse Cooper, in its most recent Doing Business in
Armenia guide, reported that, "Armenia encourages foreign trade and
investment," and that, "[s]urveys suggest that Armenia is a relatively
easy country in which to do business."
- The Millennium Challenge Corporation's 2013 scorecard reports that
Armenia is rated in the 97th percentile in terms of both favorable
trade policy and business start up, and in the 91st percentile with
regard to regulatory quality.
- Freedom House, in its 2013 report on Freedom in the World, upgraded
Armenia to a 5 rating for political rights.
In addition to these favorable indicators, Armenia has been a strong
security partner for the United States, having sent troops to support
U.S.-led coalition efforts in Iraq, to assist NATO operations in
Afghanistan, and to take part in international peacekeeping in Kosovo.
In terms of trade promotion, the ANCA - along with the American Chamber
of Commerce in Armenia and major corporations, including Microsoft,
FedEx, and NASDAQ - have called on the U.S. government to respond
favorably to the Armenian government's interest in negotiating a
badly-needed U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
and a long-overdue Double Tax Treaty. The ANCA looks to the Obama
Administration to honor the President's commitments to expand
U.S.-Armenia trade and investment, and is calling upon Congress to
support the growth of mutually beneficial economic bilateral relations.
The legislative memo noted that, "it is in this spirit, and upon
the solid foundation and friendship of the past two decades, that
we call upon you to support the appropriation of increased economic
assistance for Armenia and the expansion of programs to promote
mutually beneficial U.S-Armenia bilateral trade and investment
(such as a badly-needed U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework
Agreement and a long-overdue Double Tax Treaty)."
The level of U.S. aid to Armenia, which hit a high of $174 million
in Fiscal Year 2003, has been steadily declining over the past two
decades, as a result of both calls by successive Administrations for
cuts, and growing Congressional pressure for reductions in spending.
The Obama Administration, which came into office with aid levels at
more than $60 million, has, despite the President's campaign pledge
to maintain assistance to Armenia, sought reductions in the Armenia
aid program. The overall economic and military aid level for Armenia
in the most recent appropriations cycle is less than $45 million. The
ANCA is asking for at least $50 million in FY2014 aid to Armenia. The
President's proposed FY14 budget will be released in the coming weeks.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress