OREANDA-NEWS. November 05, 2014. President Serzh Sargsyan and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan today attended the opening of the Yerevan Show 2014 international jewelry exhibition being held at the Meridian Exhibition complex.

Famous jewelry and watch companies, individual jewelers and jewelry suppliers both from Armenia and 24 countries of the world are participating in the exhibition organized by the Armenian Jewelers Association (AJA) for the fourth time. Around 200 buyers from various countries have also arrived in Armenia in order to take part in the exhibition which, according to the organizers, is a good opportunity for domestic companies to find new markets.

The Armenian President toured the exhibition pavilions, watched jewelry presented by domestic and 125 foreign companies and jewelry-making equipments, familiarized with the activities of those companies and their upcoming projects.

In the framework of the exhibition, the Industry Development Fund jointly with the AJA plans to hold a investment forum heading “Armenia as a Regional Jewelry Center” and roundtable discussions on “Global Trends of Jewelry Development and Possibilities of Encouraging Investments in the Republic of Armenia,” “Possibilities of Promoting Diamond Production in Armenia, Existing Issues and Ways to Deal with Them.”

The Armenian President and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan also attended the opening of an exhibition of Armenian painters at the Meridian Exhibition Complex which displays more than 100 works of contemporary painters and sculptors.

During the event President Serzh Sargsyan and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan also watched an exhibition heading “Yerevan Fashion Week” which showcases collections of Armenian and Russian designers.

Later on, the Armenian President visited the building of the Meridian Free Economic Zone. The free economic zone has been established by RA Government Decree N231-A of February 27, 2014. AJA Free Economic Zone CJSC has been declared as the organizer. Here activities in the spheres of jewelry and watch making will be carried out for a 10 year period. The exploiters of the free economic zone will be exempted from corporate tax, VAT, property tax, customs duties, and public services will be rendered through a single window.