Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

ANC: Governor Signs California-Armenia Trade Office Bill

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • ANC: Governor Signs California-Armenia Trade Office Bill

    Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
    104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
    Glendale, California 91206
    Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
    [email protected] www.anca.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    Friday, October 14, 2005

    Contact: Talin Gregorian
    Tel: (818) 500-1918

    GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER SIGNS CALIFORNIA-ARMENIA TRADE OFFICE BILL

    --Sunset Date for the Trade Office Extended

    SACRAMENTO, CA - SB 897, the California-Armenia Trade Office Bill, has
    been signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said the Armenian
    National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR).

    The Bill, which extends the sunset date for the operation of the
    California International Trade and Investment Office in Yerevan,
    Armenia to the year 2008, was introduced in February of this year by
    State Senator Jack Scott (D-Pasadena), and most recently passed in
    both the California State Assembly and Senate with overwhelming
    bi-partisan support, having gained a vote of 77-1 in the Assembly and
    32-1 in the Senate. The trade office was officially opened on October
    3, 2005 in Armenia.

    `This is an important step forward in cementing ties between the
    people of California and Armenia,' stated Senator Scott who recently
    returned from a visit to Armenia. `It is also a responsible step in
    these tight economic times. This office is the first privately funded
    trade office for the state and it will be a win-win for California and
    Armenia. The trade office will open new and large growth markets for
    California businesses and investors. For Armenia, and its neighbors,
    the office will generate much-needed business and investment.'

    The director of the trade office, Arthur Khachatryan, will be visiting
    the Los Angeles area from October 19-21, and will meet with business
    and political leadership from the area in efforts to promote and
    create strong business relationships for the office.

    For over five years, the ANCA-WR has worked to improve trade relations
    between California and Armenia. In 2002, SB 897 was established as
    State law with a sunset date for the trade office set for January 1,
    2006.

    `We appreciate the support of the Governor on this issue, and we look
    forward to the fruits of stronger business and trade relations between
    California and Armenia. The establishment of this office in Armenia
    now ties it with the world's sixth largest economy, California. Though
    California once had once had over a dozen such offices, the Armenian
    Trade Office is the only one of its kind currently. We believe that
    this strong business anchor will through its synergy benefit the
    economies of both Armenia and California,' said Steven Dadaian,
    Chairman of the ANCA-WR.

    In the months leading up to the signing of the Bill, ANCA-WR Regional
    Director Armen Carapetian delivered testimony in the Capitol to secure
    passage of SB 897 in key committees and met with Assemblymembers and
    staff to galvanize support for the measure.

    The principal coauthors of SB 897 were Senators Chuck Poochigian
    (R-Fresno) and Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo), Assemblymen Juan Arambula
    (D-Fresno) and Dario Frommer (D-Glendale), as well as coauthors
    Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), and Assemblymembers Greg
    Aghazarian (R-Stockton) and Carol Liu (D-Pasadena).

    The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
    grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
    network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
    States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
    actively advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a
    broad range of issues.
Working...
X