Silence of “powerful fellows”
“If any of you opens 10 workplaces, it comprises 1000 workplaces, if you open 1000, I multiple it by 5, imagine, you don’t let people quit Armenia,” Hranush Hakobyan told this to “Russia’s powerful fellows” (upon her own formulation) during the meeting with presidents of the regional division of the Union of Armenians of Russia.
Yes, as you understood the Minister exhorted Russia-based businessmen to make investments in Armenia, furnishing her speech with preachy comparisons: she brought examples of Mantashev, Aramyants, Lazarians (in negative sense), “who didn’t leave anything in Armenia, they put their everything—power, energy, possibilities, to develop a foreign country, and we have just their glory, name and nothing else.”
According to Mrs. Hakobyan one may do a lot of work outside, however, particularly after 60, glance should be cast—what to leave in the homeland and what to create? However, the Minister particularly stressed, “I don’t mean philanthropy, let’s forget about that, what important project, direction should you do to remain in the Armenian history? I mean Russia’s powerful fellows. Let this be your number one issue.”
Why is it mentioned that Hranush Hakobyan likes figure 1000? As recently she again stated that figure, however, not from the perspective of a workplace, but of money. In April 2015 she resentfully called on the Diaspora Armenians to open a bank account of USD 1000 in Armenian banks. “Let each of them put USD 1000 on his/her account. Banks will become powerful, economy will develop and they’ll have their interests. We don’t want philanthropy from them,” Hranush Hakobyan said, differently reflecting to System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, who called on Armenia’s authorities to initiate steps to improve country’s condition, put an end to institutional injustice and suspend migration.
Initially one could have thought that it was a statement, made under emotions, however, the Minister then clarified that the idea of investing in banks came to her in 2013 during the meeting with financiers and banks, “The idea was born at that time, this is not new. I thank reporters for making that noise, so that the Diaspora remembered.”
How did that call help? In no way. In the banks of non-residents (including Diaspora Armenians) the money kept in banks didn’t increase.
Let’s try to understand the Diaspora Armenians, who know simple arithmetic. Investing in the USA or European countries, the one receives maximum 2-3%. Armenian banks offer 6.5-7% in case of USD investments. Thus, keeping savings in Armenia is more beneficial, that in foreign banks. In this case the Diaspora Armenian should be interested in saving in Armenia.
In that case, why don’t they move savings to Armenia, what prevents them from doing it? This question Hranush Hakobyan and other officials should have given to themselves and attempted to find the answer. However, judging from the meeting with Diaspora Armenians, this issue doesn’t bother them.
As one shouldn’t play with patriotic feelings of the businessman, urging or convincing him invest in Armenia. There is only one way to persuade—establish such a business environment, that the businessman had the intention of making investment in Armenia. And it doesn’t matter, whether Diaspora Armenian or an Australian, as business doesn’t recognize nationality. And likewise calls—resentful, teaching, may have the opposite effect of repulsing any businessman. This simple reality is the reason that even 1% potential of millions of Armenian Diaspora isn’t used.
By Babken Tunyan
