JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE ARMENIA–TURKEY BUSINESS FORUM “Open border crossings connect peoples and economies”
Following the Business Forum held on September 3–4, the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia (UMBA) and the Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Van CCI) issued a joint message on the normalization of relations, the opening of border crossings, and the development of economic cooperation.
As part of the Armenia–Turkey Business Forum held in Yerevan, 80 businesspeople representing Van CCI met with representatives of the Armenian business community. The meetings focused on opportunities for bilateral trade and investment, while participants also discussed prospects for developing joint initiatives between the business communities of the two countries and strengthening existing economic ties.
The parties stated that the business community can make a significant contribution to developing relations on the basis of mutual understanding, trust, and shared economic interests, independently of borders and political disputes.
The statement noted that strengthening economic and commercial relations between Turkey and Armenia would make a significant contribution not only to the business communities of the two countries, but also to the economic and social development of the border regions, as well as Van and Yerevan.
Key headlines
The statement emphasized the importance of the following areas:
Increasing the volume of trade between the two countries, opening the Turkey–Armenia border crossings, and mutually facilitating border crossings;
Developing transportation links and making more effective use of existing transport routes;
Increasing reciprocal visits by businesspeople and expanding business-to-business (B2B) and corporate sales meetings;
Exploring opportunities for joint investment and production;
Strengthening cooperation in tourism, logistics, agriculture, food, textiles, industry, and services;
Establishing sustainable institutional communication mechanisms between the two business communities.
The statement noted that opening the border crossings would mean more than simply revitalizing trade; it would also constitute an important step toward normalizing relations. It added that opening the borders would be crucial to unlocking the region’s economic potential in terms of trade, investment, tourism, and cultural interaction.
Van: a natural bridge
The statement described Van as a potential natural bridge for trade and logistics between Turkey and the Caucasus and said that strengthening economic ties between Van and Yerevan would contribute to the development of regional trade and help reinforce mutual understanding between the two peoples.
Emphasizing that the connections established in Yerevan should not remain limited to business meetings, the statement said they should be sustained through reciprocal visits, commercial relations, and concrete forms of cooperation. It noted that one of the most important steps toward making the process permanent and sustainable would be the opening of border crossings and the establishment of regular trade routes.
The statement also emphasized that trade is one of the most effective tools for strengthening mutual trust, that border crossings connect people and economies, and that economic cooperation contributes to building long-term relations.
The Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia and the Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry said they would continue working to strengthen communication and cooperation between the business communities of the two countries, increase trade volume, and support the process of opening the border crossings.
A two-day forum bringing together business communities from Armenia and Turkey was held in Yerevan on September 3–4. Organized by the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia as part of the EU-funded program “Supporting the Normalization of Armenia–Turkey Relations: Strengthening Cross-Border Ties,” the forum addressed opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries and explored new areas and formats for cooperation.
