On August 18, news.am website published a material about Syrian-Armenian businessman Shahen Cherkezian. Mr. Cherkezian is the owner of solar water heater factory ‘Solar Heaters’ in the city of Homs. He wanted to move the business of solar water heaters to Armenia. But taking into account the operations of tax and customs services of Armenia he refused. Another Syrian-Armenian businessman Alexan Karadanaian set up a printing house and a textile design center. Aravot.am talked to Mr. Karadanaian to know whether the latter has had some tax problems, and what difficulties he encountered in Armenia in general. Alexan Karadanaian told that it was difficult at first, because the tax system in Syria is very different from Armenian tax system. “All this was strange to us. We were not used to pay taxes. If you set up a new business in Syria, the government exempts you from paying taxes for 5 years, so that you could keep employees. But I must say that 99% of our employers work illigally.
The government does not put a lot of pressure on us. Here is is not so. Everything is done by the law in Armenia. In other word, from an easy system we passed to a more difficult system. However, there is a support. RA Ministry of Diaspora organized accounting courses for us to become better acquainted with tax system. It’s good, once a month or three months we pay 5% tax.” Mr. Karadanaian who came to Armenia from Aleppo a year ago, reflecting the difficulties associated with his business, said,- “There are very few clothing manufacturers in Armenia. People purchase clothes from other countries, and sell expensive here. We are working with the manufacturers of clothes, and more they are, better for our job. In other word, from a big market we came to a narrow market.” As for the profitable of the business, Alexan Karadanaian still found it difficult to make any assessment, but noted that there is not much to do. “At present, the business is not so good, but it’s normal. In Syria, we also did not have acquaintances at first, but then we were recognized, and our business improved. If I compare, in Syria I had about 100 customers, and here only 3-4. It’s still 4 months that we are working, I employ the printing house with three friends. It needs time and we will be known.
Textile industry is gradually developing. I am an optimist and hope that the producers in Armenia will also grow.” Perhaps, the difficulties were this much. Alexan Karadanaian told that the Armenian side did its best to support Syrian-Armenians, to whom all doors are open. “When we just arrived, Hranush Hakobyan organized meetings with heavy, medium and light industry representatives. The meeting was attended by RA Deputy Minister of Industry, and a representative of Tax Services. There is nothing like that in Syria, you can not speak with the minister or deputy minister. With their assistance, we obtained acquaintances, and today we have several orders. In this sense it is easier in Syria, because there is an industrial region, but here one is in Argavand, the other in Bangladesh. The first day we arrived, we understood that the government is standing behind us.” When asked whether the Syrian-Armenian businessman would want to go back to Aleppo, said: “The future is still uncertain for me. If the situation in Syria becomes better, maybe I will go and restart my printing business. We can live a better life with the income over there. It is good in Armenia, but our house, friends, parents of my wife, all of them are there.”
Lusine SHAKHAZIZYAN