Greek-Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GACCI) was founded in Athens and has been committed to strengthening business ties between the two countries for more then 20 years.

It was founded in 1992 by a group of Greek businessmen immediately after Armenia regained independence. The person behind this endeavor was Christos Dalelian, a well known jeweler and businessman from Greece who is still serving GACCI as Honorary President.
 
Banks.am interviewed Second Vice President of the Greek-Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Akis Dagazian.

- Mr. Dagazian, what moods rule among Armenian businessmen in Greece on making investments in their motherland and possibly, repatriating to Armenia?

-First of all we should categorize people of Armenian origin in Greece into three distinguished categories. In the first category we should refer to Armenians that have been living in Greece even before the Genocide. Most of them live in Northern Greece, they are very few in numbers but impressively enough they are very active in Armenian matters. Second category consists of descendants of Armenians that settled in Greece right after the Genocide and are living mainly in Athens and Thessaloniki. They number around 10,000 people. In the third category we include those Armenians that came to Greece after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since we do not have any official reports, their number varies from 30.000 to 40.000 people.

Businessmen from the first and second categories were the first that took the initiative to invest in Armenia. But that initial optimism gave its place to a mutual lack of understanding and finally skepticism.

On the one hand the Armenian side was not enough ready and mature to develop business relations with Greece, a country full member of the European Union and meet the specific quality standards required for all products launched in the EU zone. Such quality issues are faced by Greek importers even today…

On the other hand, Greek businessmen might not had been well prepared as well, to deal with a post-soviet country full of particularities such as the diverse business ethics, the consolidation of resources to a limited amount of persons and the unstable geopolitical situation in South Caucasus.

We can say that only in the last 5 years we have experienced a decrease in the trend of skepticism. This is about launching Armenian products in Greece and Greek products in Armenia. It’s a trend we strongly feel that will continue as both sides improve their mutual understanding.  

Greece exports to Armenia mainly tobacco products, aluminum and olives. Armenia exports to Greece alcoholic products, food and watches.

Armenians of the third category have retained their communication and strong ties with their motherland. After their successful establishment in Greece, they also sought to develop several business activities between the two countries but only on a small scale, fragmentary and non-continuous basis.

Among all Armenians living in Greece I see only a minor will of returning back to Armenia. Even after the huge fiscal crisis in the country, which has rocketed unemployment to the record high of 28%, immigrant Armenians preferred staying in Greece or seek employment opportunities in other EU countries and the USA rather than returning back to Armenia.

- Based on the information you have, how many Armenian migrant workers there are, in which areas do they work, what challenges do they face and how well are their rights protected?

-We should divide immigrants into two categories: legal and illegal. Although the last face the threat of immediate expulsion from the country, Greece has shown a high degree of tolerance.

The number of the working immigrants of Armenian origin in Greece (legal and illegal with their families included) does not exceed 40.000 people.

Men work mostly at factories and construction companies as workers. Some of them operate small family businesses like mini markets and restaurants. Others are occupied as sales persons at any kind of shops.

Women mostly work as housekeepers at homes, but many them – since they are fluent in Russian – are employed at restaurants or hotels in touristic areas.

There are also immigrants that have succeeded in recognizing their Soviet university diplomas by the Hellenic Government so they also work as lawyers or even doctors. Some of those who have obtained the Hellenic citizenship have even participated in recent local elections as candidates.

But, being financial immigrants and residents of Greece they face all difficulties the rest of financial immigrants as well as Greeks themselves are facing. As we all know, Greece has been in its 6th consequent year of deep recession, a situation which had a great reflection on all sectors of economy. Unemployment, decline is all incomes, higher taxation, increasing cost of healthcare and social security are issues of high importance to all residents of Greece, including immigrants.  

-Are there any Armenian companies or brands which are recognized and competitive in the Greek market?

- At the moment, the presence of Armenian brands in Greece is very limited. It mainly consists of the famous watch brand “AWI” which is distributed in Greece by the well-known jewelry company “Orofasma”. Currently “AWI” Watches are positioned at more than 25 high-end jewelry shops all over Greece.

The second known brand is “ArArAt” brandy which is imported in Greece by the Greek company “Quality Wines”. The same firm imports a wide range of Armenian wines as well as several other food products and sweets.

- Greece is one of the leading countries in the sectors of agritourism and ecotourism and has shown that agritourism does not require large-scale investments. Can the Greek practice be employed in case of Armenia, and if yes, how well can it be implemented?  

- Armenia could benefit from all fields in which Greece has high levels of experience. Agritourism and ecotourism are just two of these fields. But at the same time I should stress that expertise which Greece has obtained over the last 30 years was the result of huge amounts of efforts by local small businesses as well as a lot of strategic plans by the Greek government and the EU.

In the case of Armenia, in order to create conditions for sustainable development in the touristic field, a lot of investments are required for the improvement of the motorways, roads that link the villages, communications, healthcare points, proper road signs for bicycles and cars, widespread ecology policies  as well as several other measures to improve living conditions in rural areas. Add proper marketing and then you get the basic ingredients for success!

In this context, Armenia has still a lot of steps to take to improve its rural infrastructure. The cableway to Tatev was a great positive example of how Armenia is envisioning its ecotouristic future. For sure the efforts of local small businessmen are of high significance but not enough to attract visitors if infrastructure issues are not solved. In case of Greece, EU has funded most of the country’s infrastructure projects. Armenia should find alternative means of financing.

-You are the managing director of “Dagazian” fine art jewelry: To what extent are Armenian jewelries famed in Greece and on the whole, in European countries? Are you going to take part in the works aimed at establishing Free Economic Zone for Jewelers in Armenia?

-Armenia definitely has great potential in jewelry sector. After Gagik Gevorkyan took over as president of Armenian Jewelers Association (AJA), a lot of new and constructive initiatives have been taken including the creation of the Free Economic Zone in Yerevan under the auspices of the Armenian state and the AJA.

According to AJA, Armenians globally control more than 5% of the international jewelry business. There is a similar situation in Greece where a lot of Armenians are involved in jewelry manufacturing as well as jewelry wholesale and retail trade.

“Dagazian Fine Jewellery” was founded back in 1957 by the late legendary jeweler Takvor Dagazian. At the moment we operate shops in Greece, Turkey, Lebanon and Estonia. We export to more than 14 countries in Europe. Initially we are intending to exhibit in Yerevan Jewelry Show this coming October. Decision of moving part of our production in Yerevan is not yet included in our plans but definitely will be under further consideration after the finalization of tariffs and operating rules in the Free Economic Zone.

-What makes Armenia known to Greek people and to what extent? Do Greek tourists view Armenia as a must-visit country?

-Armenians and Greeks share a common historical background and hold strong cultural ties since ages. Greeks know about Armenia not only from their school books but also through a progressive Armenian Diaspora which is active and integrated in all fields of society.

Unfortunately, Armenia has not yet utilized its comparative advantage as a potential touristic destination and the annual number of tourists is relatively low. In this context, Greeks know only a little about Armenia’s beauties and tourist attractions.

I strongly believe there is a great field for the development of Armenia’s tourist product, especially in the sectors of religious and cultural tourism, agritourism and ecotourism, adventure travel and rural tourism. The lack of a regular direct flight between Yerevan and Greek airports as a result of high costs of Venizelos and Zvartnots amplifies the absence of a solid touristic interchange even more.

After the collapse of “Armavia”, our Chamber has more than once tried to urge local air carriers to start regular flights to Yerevan or to include Yerevan in existing flights with Tbilisi as final destination!

-And the last question. What useful advice would you give to Armenian tourists planning to have their summer vacations in Greece?

- What I would basically recommend to all tourists is not to remain only in the hotels but explore other places and beaches close by, visit historical monuments and sites, try the local cuisine not only in the hotels but at several other places as well. Do not hesitate to rent cars or bikes, live the unique experience of the Greek nature and check out the exceptional Greek nightlife.

At the same time, they can benefit from the widespread Armenian presence all over Greece and visit sites of unique Armenian interest. For example in Crete there lies the oldest Armenian Church in Europe which was acquired by Armenians back in 1669 and is still in operation.

Greece might be the only tourist destination where visitors can combine sea, sun, fun, culture and education in a safe and secure environment! If you add the Armenian connection on top of that, then for sure Greece is the place to be!

Akis Dagazian was interviewed by Narine Daneghyan