EFSE: Armenian Opportunities for Enterprise DevelopmentApril 17, 2014 - 16:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) aims to foster economic development and prosperity in the Southeast Europe region, including the European Eastern Neighborhood region, through the sustainable provision of additional development finance. The Fund offers long-term funding instruments to qualified partner lending institutions to better serve the financing needs of micro and small enterprises and low-income private households. Currently, the EFSE is operating in 16 countries that include Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. The Annual Meeting of the European Fund for Southeast Europe is the EFSE's core event. It takes place on a yearly basis – each year in a different city of one of EFSE’s partner countries. Through the EFSE Annual Meeting, the Fund aims to bring together all of its stakeholders, including donors, international financial institutions, private investors, as well as finance practitioners, providing a platform for the exchange of ideas and creation of new ones. This year’s event will be held in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, from June 17-19 under the motto “16 Countries … and Opportunities for Enterprise Development.” To raise public awareness ahead of the upcoming Annual Meeting, PanARMENIAN.Net launches a project titled Armenian Opportunities for Enterprise Development, which is sponsored by the EFSE and assisted by two of the Fund’s lending partner institutions in Armenia – Araratbank and ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank. The project will tell about people, who used the loans provided by the Fund's partner lending institutions to establish and successfully develop their own business. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. |