Tagged: diaspora
a dream for Kim
As Bob Dylan once sang: “the times they are a changing“
When I was traveling abroad 10 years ago, everyone would say: “Aaaa, Armenia, Cher, Saroyan, Aznavour” and now every second is saying “Ooooo, Armenia, Kim Kardashian!”. And you can’t reply: “No, no no, we are smarter”. They won’t believe. Especially youngsters.
Well I still think Kim is smart, however, I also think she could have done it without extra nudity and without extra dick in her …… whatever. None of my business.
Now, once we witness the glory of being the same nation with Kim, I think she needs to contribute. And I don’t mean money or gifts, no. I mean investment with clear ROI (return on investment) calculated by her own financial guys. Come on Kim. Are you afraid to invest a buck or two in a country like Armenia? Test how much Armenian you are. Almost every diaspora Armenian thinks about investment here. Even those who are simple employees.
Kim, I think you will have lots of ideas about investing in Armenia. Or at least in the name “Armenia” by using it in your collections. Do something.
(I know thats not the greatest way of attracting investors, this is made specifically for Kim Kardashian, thats why I offer you to read this Letter to Diaspora)
speaking of which
Speaking about the role of Diaspora in this letter and given my friends’ and my plans to incorporate a small business we started exploring and finding out what one should do to incorporate a company in Armenia.
It appears incorporation of any company or organization here in Armenia takes only 15 minutes. To our pleasant surprise, online business registration in Armenia is of the best world standards. All you have to do is start with https://www.e-register.am/en/. Here you can register and start the process easily.
The website has guides to help you, rules to read, laws to observe and FAQ section. You can also track your application or inquire info. It’s an official electronic register, naturally, not all documents are in English. Foreign investors, you are encouraged and even saluted to have an Armenian partner.
We also discovered that the government has started a digitalization of charters of legal entities registered in Armenia.
But our BIGGEST surprise was the website of the electronic government itself. It’s an official website of the government of the Republic of Armenia at e-gov.am. Here you can do even more. Just think about this, you can obtain your Armenian visa, pay taxes without visiting tax service, apply for licenses, get familiar with government decrees, follow government expenditures, send them a letter and track it and even register your intellectual property. And much more.
I know very few countries that have all those in one place, properly distributed. Actually, not a single government in the region does this. If I were Belgian, American, Chinese or Australian I would start thinking about incorporating a company in Armenia right away.
But. Let me finish this post with some sour words. Having this wonderful tool the government does not advertise it properly (you need to be a moron not to shout about it). I’m sure many have learnt about it just now.
a letter to Diaspora
Dear Diaspora,
Let me start this letter with a big Thank You!
Your role in Armenia’s life is neither properly researched nor valued. Yes, we have created the Ministry of Diaspora, but this is rather a very formal, weak and irrelevant institution. It has no control or monopoly over anything related to Diaspora. I still have not seen a clear message from the Ministry and have not seen any saluting from Diaspora’s side.
My strong opinion is, Diaspora is what Armenia should cherish and support everyday. God was not keen to leave us with land, sea or oil, but he/she gave us the biggest network of people spread all over the globe. Thinking and caring people. Smart and progressive people. People with faith and skills.
The simplest formula to make Armenia a paradise is to move to Armenia and start voting. Imagine if even a quarter of our Diaspora (which is 1,75 mln. people) moved to Armenia. It would change literally everything. Of course that is not realistic, as every simplest way to improve anything.
However, please know that you are our biggest hope and our biggest treasure. I’m sure more than a quarter of Diaspora’s Armenians would move here if there’s was a war or similar catastrophe.
I want to say a big I AM SORRY if dreams, hopes and plans of some Diaspora Armenians who moved here did not come true. I know I’m not personally guilty for that, but I’m speaking for all locals. Be sure that local Armenians like me would never want you to be disappointed or disheartened. Please also know that to the largest possible extent I’m trying to buy goods and services of Diaspora Armenians working here. And this is a call to all Hayastantsis to do the same.
A piece of advice related to this. Whenever you are pressed by the state authorities or by anyone here, please do not hesitate to do whatever you’d do in the States or Western Europe. Please do not think that going to media, social networks and playing political cards will make any sense. As it might not make any sense in the West too. Media and social networks are not responsible for formal decisions. Armenia is a member of Council of Europe and if you don’t find any satisfaction in Armenian court, you can apply to European. Even if you are not an Armenian citizen. Just know that Armenia is obliged to follow whatever decision European court comes out with. Be informed.
I usually witness Diaspora Armenians here, lost and confused. Trying to solve their problems by shouting and blaming the state. I don’t know why they think Armenia is any different from the States and they can solve their problems by shouting in social networks and not applying to court. I know many, many cases where local Armenians applied to court and proved the state was wrong. Why shouldn’t Diaspora Armenians do the same?
I want to tell you that businesses founded by Diaspora Armenians here are special. They have taste, colors, proper management strategy, atmosphere. They try progressive techniques and develop our market. And by the way, the market here is small so the risk to try anything and lose is small too. The risk to lose big money simply does not exist. You can witness great cafe/restaurant chains, productions and shops founded and/or managed by Diaspora Armenians. It brings a new culture. New hopes.
Engage as many locals as possible in your businesses. What is the point of engaging only expats? Does it really develop business thinking in local communities? Does it build local capacity? Don’t be afraid to teach and invest in locals. They are your brothers and sisters.
Always stop locals when they say “erkiry erkir chi” mentioning their everyday, routine problems. Every time you hear locals saying that, please explain that it can be applied to every erkir. Please tell them that every erkir has its own problems. And please tell them that many erkirs today were not erkirs yesterday.
Never solve your problem in Armenia using connections. Even if it’s quicker, even if it’s cheaper, even if it’s easier. You literally ruin the country when you do that. And you make a wrong example.
Continue demanding, hunger for positive changes, make it even better, bring your best practice here. Please know that locals may not understand you or your motives, but that’s just because they don’t know you. It’s normal. In every country. It takes time. You know how to make them love you.
Please plant a tree every time you come to Armenia.
If you are a no smoker, leave a thank you message when you visit a no smoking place in Yerevan.
When you visit Armenia please bring all the books you don’t read to leave them here. At least a few. In any language.
Come to make these ideas real too.
A humble and thankful citizen of Republic of Armenia (with his car keychain on the picture).
