OSCE Office supports entrepreneurship in Armenia by publishing reference guides for business owners

YEREVAN, 20 April 2010 - Two publications that aim to help Armenian business owners were launched today in Yerevan with support from the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The publications - an updated version on a guide on how to register businesses in Armenia and a reference book on support programmes for small- and medium-sized enterprises - form part of the OSCE Office's work to support business owners, policy makers and business associations.

"Raising the awareness of the business community, especially in the remote regions, about recent changes in the business-registration process and about available support schemes helps improve the overall business environment and reduces the risk for corruption," said Carel Hofstra, the Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Ishkhan Karapetyan, Executive Director of the SME Development National Centre of Armenia, which developed the publications, added:

"Our co-operation with OSCE Office in Yerevan is vital for the development and implementation of SME support policies. These publications are the result of our commitment to promote small and medium-sized entrepreneurship and ensuring a favorable business environment in Armenia."