Armenian-Japanese Cooperation Was Appreciated Highly

The Armenian project by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was evaluated as the best one in its kind implemented in different countries. The Japanese experts shared his news at an event in SME Development National Center of Armenia, on October 30. The results of the monitoring and evaluation by the evaluation mission from of the “Development of Local Production and Promotion of Local Brands in the Republic of Armenia” SME-DNC of Armenia-JICA project were discussed during the meeting.

Since 2012 when the project and One Village One Product (OVOP) Japanese concept were introduced, many start-up and functioning enterprises ad entrepreneurs have participated in more than ten trainings, received methodological support presented in manuals and guidebooks. Four enterprises from dried food, olive and cheese production created their own brand in the framework of OVOP concept. Labels with necessary amount were printed for these products. Seven entrepreneurs who participated in “Start-up Support Program” of SME DNC of Armenia, received vacuum packaging equipment for better and safer packaging and improved market presentation.

The SME DNC-JICA joint project also contributed to the development of guest house and tourism business boost in Tatev sub-region of Armenia’s Syunik Region. JICA conducted trainings on technological knowledge and developing of business plans. SME DNC of Armenia provided loan guarantees for the business plans considered as the best and financed by banks. As a result, 11 new tourism enterprises were established. They received show window refrigerators for presenting the local products to the guests.

Similar trainings were conducted in Garni and Bjni communities of Kotayk region, and Jermuk city of Vayots Dzor region. A cheese production technology training was conducted, and a technology guide book was published in Khndzoresk community of Syunik region.
OVOP Armenia Facebook page was launched.  OVOP movement member entrepreneurs were presented in this page, plus their products and services were advertised.

Gegham Petrosyan, Executive Director of SME DNC of Armenia, Aram Ohanyan, Head of SME Development Department of the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, Karen Gevorgyan, Deputy Executive Director of SME DNC, and Lilit Apujanyan, International Cooperation Programs Coordinator of SME DNC participated in the meeting from Armenian side. The Japanese party was presented by Fushimi Katsutoshi,  Head of the evaluation mission and the JICA Uzbekistan Office Manager, Ueda Takafumi, Senior Adviser of the evaluation mission, Rika Fujioki, Expert of the evaluation mission, Ruzan Khojikyan, Coordinator of JICA Armenian Connection Office, Tsukamoto Akihiro, the Head of Expert group, Ms. Mivako Oikava, Project Expert and Garnik Manukyan, Project Coordinator.
Gegham Petrosyan highly appreciated the “Development of Local Production and Promotion of Local Brands in the Republic of Armenia”  project effectiveness. He stressed that as a result of the project many entrepreneurs from the regions gained new skills and knowledge of marketing, business planning and branding.
Tsukamoto Akihiro Presented the further steps of the project. A training of trainers (ToT)  will be organized for SME DNC staff and the business support providers, a follow-up and identification of challenges of pilot project related to the presentation of Armenian SME production in Japanese market, will be implemented.

Fushimi Katsutoshi shared main tasks and objectives of the evaluation mission. Ms. Rika Fujioka presented the report. The Japanese partners rated the project with “high” and “very high”. Ueda Takafumi, member of evaluation mission presented the conclusions an recommendations by the evaluators for further activities.

At the end of the event the parties signed the report. Aram Ohanyan thanked the Japanese side and appreciated highly the project implementation. Fushimi Katsutoshi, Head of the evaluation mission, thanked the Armenian side for ensuring the high efficiency of project implementation and high-level cooperation.

the material is taken from http://smednc.am/en/multicontent/news/75/