Building Business Links between Armenian and Turkish partners

As part of the project “Support to the Armenia–Turkey Normalisation Process: Strengthening Cross-Border Connections,” implemented by the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia, Eurasia Partnership Foundation, Hrant Dink Foundation, and the Turkish Economic Policy Research Foundation (TEPAV), a delegation of 16 Armenian business representatives visited the eastern Turkish provinces of Iğdır and Van on June 29–30.

During the visit, Armenian and Turkish entrepreneurs held meetings at the Iğdır and Van Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The delegation also toured the Iğdır Organized Industrial Zone, where participants explored opportunities for trade, investment, and cross-border business cooperation. Representatives from the construction, floriculture, legal services, textiles, bottled water, juice, coffee, dairy, aluminum manufacturing, and other sectors also took part in B2B meetings.

According to Artur Ghazaryan, Head of Programs at UMBA, the primary objective of the meetings was to establish business contacts with Turkish counterparts, explore future cooperation opportunities, and discuss ways to strengthen cross-border business partnerships. He noted that UMBA has been working to promote Armenia–Turkey economic relations since the 1990s. While the process has experienced both progress and setbacks, informal business ties have continued to exist despite the absence of official bilateral business relations.

Ghazaryan emphasized that bottom-up initiatives led by the business community can play an important role in improving bilateral relations and contributing to the eventual opening of the border. In this regard, he highlighted the importance of focusing cooperation on the Turkish regions closest to Armenia.

The importance of reopening the border was also stressed by Kamil Arslan, President of the Iğdır Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Necdet Takva, President of the Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Arslan stated that trade relations could expand significantly once the border is opened, noting that the current route through Georgia creates additional logistical challenges and limits the potential for economic cooperation. He expressed hope that the border would soon reopen, at least for third-country nationals and business travelers, emphasizing the importance of such a step for regional economic development.

Reaffirming his institution’s commitment to cooperation, Takva noted that the Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry has always regarded Armenia as a potential economic partner and remains ready to facilitate dialogue between business communities in the two countries.

Both sides highlighted the clear mutual interest in expanding cooperation, the need to establish a dedicated platform for promoting bilateral economic relations, and the importance of signing a memorandum of cooperation in the near future.

During the meetings, the Head of UMBA Programs invited Turkish business representatives to participate in the Armenian–Turkish Business Forum, which will be held in Yerevan on September 3–4.

The project “Support to the Armenia–Turkey Normalisation Process: Strengthening Cross-Border Connections” is funded by the European Union.