On 26 August, with the support of Mantashov Entrepreneurs Union and “APAVEN” International Freight Forwarding Company, a PechaKucha format discussion on “Blood Veins” of Armenia was held in the scope of the EU-funded “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” project. The SME Partnership Association workshop was the organiser of the discussion, which was attended by representatives of legislative and executive bodies.

In the first part of the meeting the speakers delivered short speeches, and in the second part a discussion with the participation of representatives of the legislative, executive and business community was organised.

Ms Marie Vardanyan, the Official Representative of PechaKucha License, presented the PechaKucha Evening Format. Ms Naira Manukyan, President of SME Partnership Association, presented the general objectives of the event. Mr. Armen Simonyan Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, and Mr. Hakob Avagyan Member of the Founding Council of SME Partnership Association also delivered speeches.

In the first part of the meeting, Mr. Yeghishe Hovhannisyan, President of the Union of Freight Forwarders, delivered a speech on “Global Logistics Next to Us”, and Mr. Rafael Manukyan, co-founder of Ararat Trans and Mantashov Businessmen Union, spoke about “Land Transport Park of Armenia”. Mr Hrant Mikayelyan, Political and Economic Scientist, a researcher at the Caucasus Institute, also touched upon the topic “Armenia in the Regional Transport Network Yesterday and Today”.

The topic of the second part of panel discussion was the obstacles to the development of logistics. The speakers were Mr. Babken Tunyan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, Mr. Hayk Gevorgyan, MP, and Mr. Armen Simonyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Ms. Karine Minasyan, Board Member of the Eurasian Economic Commission, Mr. Gagik Aghajanyan, Director of “APAVEN” International Freight Forwarders and Mr. Yeghishe Hovhannisyan, the President of International Freight Forwarders.

Hakob Avagyan, Founding Member of SME Partnership Association was the moderator of the event.