YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Visiting California State Senator Jack Scott (D-Pasadena) said that the Yerevan office of the California International Trade and Investment Office would start operating on October 1.
Scott–who will be in Armenia until Saturday–said the opening of the office in the Armenian capital was evidence of growing trade between Armenia and California and would create favorable conditions for Armenian businessmen to sell their products in California–home to a 500,000 strong Armenian community.
Scott indicated that Armenia would in return–be able to import the latest technology in such sectors as IT–biotechnology–and architecture.
Plans are to eventually expand the office to Ukraine–Georgia–and Russia.
"Californians and Armenia’s alike can move forward towards establishing closer business and trade relations with one another to benefit both peoples equally," Scott said–adding that it took 4-5 years to have the California State Legislature to pass a resolution to establish a Yerevan trade office.
Armenian-US trade is now about $60-70 million and the bulk of which falls on California.
Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian said the office will help raise these figures substantially in the next few years.
The California International Trade office will be housed temporarily in the premises of the Armenian Development Agency (ADA) until a separate building is found.
