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ANCA calls on the US Government to increase assistance to Armenia
The Armenian National Committee of America, citing a recent round of
positive third-party evaluations of Armenia's progress across a broad
array of economic indicators, has called on members of the newly
installed 113th Congress to both appropriate increased economic
assistance for Armenia and to expand programs to promote U.S.-Armenia
bilateral trade and investment. Asbarez.com writes about this.
Among the favorable findings referenced by the ANCA, in a letter sent
this week to legislative offices calling for expanded trade promotion
and increased assistance to Armenia, were the following:
- The World Bank, in its 2013 Doing Business report, ranked Armenia
#32 worldwide in terms of overall ease of doing business, #11 for ease
of starting a business, and #4 for ease of registering property.
- The Wall Street Journal/Heritage Foundation's 2013 Index of Economic
Freedom rates Armenia #38 worldwide, and #17 among the 43 European
states, ahead of Belgium, France, and Spain.
- The World Economic Forum's 2012 Global Enabling Trade Report ranks
Armenia #13 worldwide for market access and #59 in terms of the
overall extent to which it has developed institutions, policies, and
services facilitating the free flow of goods over borders.
- Price Waterhouse Cooper, in its most recent Doing Business in
Armenia guide, reported that, `Armenia encourages foreign trade and
investment,' and that, `[s]urveys suggest that Armenia is a relatively
easy country in which to do business.'
- The Millennium Challenge Corporation's 2013 scorecard reports that
Armenia is rated in the 97th percentile in terms of both favorable
trade policy and business start up, and in the 91st percentile with
regard to regulatory quality.
- Freedom House, in its 2013 report on Freedom in the World, upgraded
Armenia to a 5 rating for political rights.
In addition to these favorable indicators, Armenia has been a strong
security partner for the United States, having sent troops to support
U.S.-led coalition efforts in Iraq, to assist NATO operations in
Afghanistan, and to take part in international peacekeeping in Kosovo.
In terms of trade promotion, the ANCA - along with the American
Chamber of Commerce in Armenia and major corporations, including
Microsoft, FedEx, and NASDAQ - have called on the U.S. government to
respond favorably to the Armenian government's interest in negotiating
a badly-needed U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
and a long-overdue Double Tax Treaty. The ANCA looks to the Obama
Administration to honor the President's commitments to expand
U.S.-Armenia trade and investment, and is calling upon Congress to
support the growth of mutually beneficial economic bilateral
relations.
The legislative memo noted that, `it is in this spirit, and upon the
solid foundation and friendship of the past two decades, that we call
upon you to support the appropriation of increased economic assistance
for Armenia and the expansion of programs to promote mutually
beneficial U.S-Armenia bilateral trade and investment (such as a
badly-needed U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement and
a long-overdue Double Tax Treaty).'
The level of U.S. aid to Armenia, which hit a high of $174 million in
Fiscal Year 2003, has been steadily declining over the past decade, as
a result of both calls by successive Administrations for cuts, and
growing Congressional pressure for reductions in spending. The Obama
Administration, which came into office with aid levels at more than
$60 million, has, despite the President's campaign pledge to maintain
assistance to Armenia, sought reductions in the Armenia aid program.
The overall economic and military aid level for Armenia in the most
recent appropriations cycle is less than $45 million. The ANCA is
asking for at least $50 million in FY2014 aid to Armenia. The
President's proposed FY14 budget will be released in the coming weeks.
http://times.am/?l=en&p=17203
The Armenian National Committee of America, citing a recent round of
positive third-party evaluations of Armenia's progress across a broad
array of economic indicators, has called on members of the newly
installed 113th Congress to both appropriate increased economic
assistance for Armenia and to expand programs to promote U.S.-Armenia
bilateral trade and investment. Asbarez.com writes about this.
Among the favorable findings referenced by the ANCA, in a letter sent
this week to legislative offices calling for expanded trade promotion
and increased assistance to Armenia, were the following:
- The World Bank, in its 2013 Doing Business report, ranked Armenia
#32 worldwide in terms of overall ease of doing business, #11 for ease
of starting a business, and #4 for ease of registering property.
- The Wall Street Journal/Heritage Foundation's 2013 Index of Economic
Freedom rates Armenia #38 worldwide, and #17 among the 43 European
states, ahead of Belgium, France, and Spain.
- The World Economic Forum's 2012 Global Enabling Trade Report ranks
Armenia #13 worldwide for market access and #59 in terms of the
overall extent to which it has developed institutions, policies, and
services facilitating the free flow of goods over borders.
- Price Waterhouse Cooper, in its most recent Doing Business in
Armenia guide, reported that, `Armenia encourages foreign trade and
investment,' and that, `[s]urveys suggest that Armenia is a relatively
easy country in which to do business.'
- The Millennium Challenge Corporation's 2013 scorecard reports that
Armenia is rated in the 97th percentile in terms of both favorable
trade policy and business start up, and in the 91st percentile with
regard to regulatory quality.
- Freedom House, in its 2013 report on Freedom in the World, upgraded
Armenia to a 5 rating for political rights.
In addition to these favorable indicators, Armenia has been a strong
security partner for the United States, having sent troops to support
U.S.-led coalition efforts in Iraq, to assist NATO operations in
Afghanistan, and to take part in international peacekeeping in Kosovo.
In terms of trade promotion, the ANCA - along with the American
Chamber of Commerce in Armenia and major corporations, including
Microsoft, FedEx, and NASDAQ - have called on the U.S. government to
respond favorably to the Armenian government's interest in negotiating
a badly-needed U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
and a long-overdue Double Tax Treaty. The ANCA looks to the Obama
Administration to honor the President's commitments to expand
U.S.-Armenia trade and investment, and is calling upon Congress to
support the growth of mutually beneficial economic bilateral
relations.
The legislative memo noted that, `it is in this spirit, and upon the
solid foundation and friendship of the past two decades, that we call
upon you to support the appropriation of increased economic assistance
for Armenia and the expansion of programs to promote mutually
beneficial U.S-Armenia bilateral trade and investment (such as a
badly-needed U.S.-Armenia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement and
a long-overdue Double Tax Treaty).'
The level of U.S. aid to Armenia, which hit a high of $174 million in
Fiscal Year 2003, has been steadily declining over the past decade, as
a result of both calls by successive Administrations for cuts, and
growing Congressional pressure for reductions in spending. The Obama
Administration, which came into office with aid levels at more than
$60 million, has, despite the President's campaign pledge to maintain
assistance to Armenia, sought reductions in the Armenia aid program.
The overall economic and military aid level for Armenia in the most
recent appropriations cycle is less than $45 million. The ANCA is
asking for at least $50 million in FY2014 aid to Armenia. The
President's proposed FY14 budget will be released in the coming weeks.
http://times.am/?l=en&p=17203