Armenia best country for business in CIS: ForbesDecember 18, 2014 - 18:10 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia was ranked 56th in Forbes' new Best Countries for Business – 2014 list, leaving behind its CIS neighbors - Azerbaijan was placed 60th, Russia 91st, Moldova 75th, Ukraine 88th, Kyrgyzstan 101st. Among the regional states, Georgia took the 47th spot, Turkey - 50th, Iran - 132nd. According to Forbes, Armenia has improved its position in the "monetary freedom" and "tax burden" criteria. The neighboring Azerbaijan is estimated to have worsened its position in the "personal freedoms" criteria. "Azerbaijan has had a limited progress only in the market-oriented economic reforms. Corruption in the private sector and structural economic weaknesses remain an obstacle to growth, especially in the non-energy sector," Forbes said. United States was placed 18th in the ranking, with Denmark named the best country for business in 2014, followed by Hong Kong and New Zealand. Related links: 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 | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |