SYDNEY: The Hon. Hranush Hakobyan, RA Minister for the Diaspora, met with a number of Australian Armenian business leaders on Thursday, 31 March. 

The breakfast meeting was organised by HYECORP Property Group and hosted by the Group Director, Michael Abolakian. 

Present at the meeting were the Mayor of the city of Ryde, Artin Etmekdjian and the Lady Mayoress, Nora Etmekdjian. 

Also present were Ryde City Councillor, Sarkis Yedelian, the founder of “Planet Ark” and “Do Something” Jon Dee, the president of the Australian Armenian Chamber of Commerce, Rita Lepedjian and business leaders from the manufacturing, retail, tourism, development and construction and services sectors. 

The Minister welcomed the opportunity to meet her compatriots in Australia and stressed the importance of Australian Armenian business strengthening commercial ties with Armenia. Mrs. Hakobyan called on business leaders to consider Armenia as a destination for their investment.

She said: "The expansion of the Armenian economy is the key to the future stability of the Armenian Republic. The government of Armenia is cognizant of this reality and has created mechanisms to facilitate foreign investments in the Republic."

She also considered initial investments by Diasporan Armenian businesses as critical to growing confidence for further foreign investments. 
During robust and frank discussions a number of views were discussed. Michael Abolakian highlighted the necessity for “a business-minded approach by authorities in Armenia. Investments in Armenia must be guaranteed by law and not by the whim of the day’s government or administration. Investors must have confidence in the system and be protected by these laws regardless of who is in power.”

The Minister invited the businessmen to use the resources of her Ministry to access investment opportunities in Armenia. She further assured her audience that she would seek iron-clad assurances from the offices of the Prime Minister and the President to safeguard all Diaspora Armenian investments in the Republic. 

At the conclusion of the meeting Hakobyan invited the attendees to visit Armenia and find out first-hand the investment opportunities awaiting them. 

"The opportunity to meet an influential minister in the Armenian Government and have frank discussions with her gives us an added incentive to consider investments in Armenia as a serious option," said Stephen Abolakian, Director at HYECORP Property Group. "We look forward to some positive outcomes from these discussions in the very near future."