YEREVAN. - President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on Thursday received the delegation led by Drago Azinovic, President of Philip Morris International Management S.A. Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa Region and PMI Duty Free at Philip Morris International, Inc.
Sargsyan welcomed the representatives of the world-renowned company, who have arrived in Armenia with a business proposal, noting that the foundation of a Research & Development (R&D) center by Philip Morris International Management SA in Armenia will also get the support of the country’s technology centers, including the Gyumri Technology Centre (GTC). This will also be positively perceived by the public, since the Armenian people have always been attentive to innovations, trying to bring leading ideas to Armenia and localize them there, he added.
Sargsyan also stressed that now more than ever before, the research and development, as well as science and technology, have a decisive role in the progress and development of Armenia, the development of the technological sphere always being in the center of the Armenian Government’s attention. According to him, the Government has great experience in working with transnational organizations in the sphere of technology: companies starting from Microsoft to National Instruments have centers in Armenia, which successfully carry out their activity in the country.
Drago Azinovic, for his part, thanked the President for the reception and briefed him on the recent achievements of the company, investments aimed at its development, as well as innovation programs aimed at presenting a production, which reduces harm from smoking.
Mr Azinovic expressed satisfaction with the fact that Armenia also attaches great importance to the development of technologies and people. He noted that by encouraging the human talents and development of technologies, the authorities create an opportunity for the country’s development, thereby contributing to its future inclusion in the list of the leading countries of the world. Furthermore, he hailed such an approach and the readiness to cooperate, stressing that Philip Morris International Management SA will be consistent in fulfilling the obligations taken up by it pursuant to the framework memorandum of understanding signed Thursday.
