Associations

Overview of Business Associations in the Areas of IT, Tourism Pharmaceuticals and the Engineering Services

The Business Associations Development Program of CAPS intends to strengthen the capacities of business associations in Armenia, particularly in the fields of IT, tourism, pharmaceuticals and the engineering services, to expand membership, improve services and achieve financial sustainability. To accomplish this, CAPS has mobilized resources of local and international experts and provides financial support through limited grants to individual associations. Associations may look at the announcements section of the CAPS website for additional information on grants.

The program started with an initial assessment of functioning business associations in IT and tourism. The assessment examines partnership efforts; services; association management skills; revenues, including non-dues revenues; available technical resources; and operations effectiveness. These findings of the assessment have been used to design package of assistance for individual associations. Development Plans have been prepared for Union of Incoming Tour Operators, Guild of Armenian Tour Guides (GATG), Union of Information Technology Enterprises, Armenian Hotel Association (AHA), Armenian Restaurants Association (ARA) and lately, after pharmaceuticals cluster was selected for CAPS support, Union of Medicine Producers and Importers was added to the list. The plans outline associations’ capacity strengthening needs and recommend project to address them.

In addition to assessment of functioning associations, CAPS started active consultations with sub-industry groups of both clusters who were not organized into associations to identify the potential for establishing of new groups. Discussions were organized with identified leaders to present benefits of well organized industry groups and recommendations provided on how to promote the idea of business association among the industry companies. Out of this process, three new Business Associations have been formed. These include the already mentioned AHA, ARA and E-Content Association (ELBA).

One of the CAPS activities resulted in the establishment of professional development training courses according to internationally standards under AHA, ARA and GATG. The training courses help to address a major issue within the Armenian tourism industry - development of professional skills of hotel and restaurant staff, and tourist guides - and help to improve financial sustainability of the associations through generating revenue from the training.

Further CAPS support included the development of websites for associations, making it easier to promote services and information to member and non-member companies.
Additionally, CAPS links associations with Armenian groups who can assist them in areas such as strategic planning, marketing, research and training.

A brief overview of key industry associations in CAPS assisted clusters is provided below. This list does not include Armenian branches of international associations and those associations where tourism, IT, pharmaceuticals, and the engineering services companies do not have substantial representation.

Union of Incoming Tour Operators  - Union of Incoming Tour was established in 2004 by Armenian Tour Operator companies focused on inbound tourism. It unifies companies that hold more than 70% of incoming tourist business in Armenia. Member companies offer a range of tourism products including historical tours, cultural heritage tours, agricultural tours, etc.

Union of Information Technology Enterprises  - UITE was set up in 2000 by the private sector representatives to consolidate industry issues for advocacy, to facilitate business and encourage advancement of research in the ICT sector. The members list includes both small companies and multinationals operating in Armenia. Members are involved in software product development, Internet and E-commerce, IT services, R&D, chip design etc.

Armenian Hotels Association  - AHA was officially established in July 2006. Eight hotels, of which two are branches of internationally recognized chains, joined together to improve the policy environment relevant to hospitality business, help to improve hospitality and customer care services in Armenia, and create new professional development, information and marketing opportunities for Armenian Hotels.

Armenian Guides Guild  - Armenian Guides Guild was formed in 2005 by group professional guides of formerly operating Intourist State Organization. The major goal of AGG is to recover tourist guides training school, provide guides with professional development opportunities, and improve employment opportunities through establishing close cooperation with other members of tourism cluster.

Armenian Restaurant Associations  - ARA is established by top Armenian restaurants including The Club, Square One, Bravo, Jazvee, Café Central, and Alpha Food Service and restaurants of branded Hotels, Marriott Armenia and Tufenkian Heritage. Currently the association has 9 members. The services include internationally accredited professional development opportunities for middle management staff of the restaurants, advocacy and lobbying

Board of Airline Representatives in Armenia  - BARA was formed in July 2006. It unifies most airlines operating in Armenia, both local and international. Among the major goals of BARA is lobbying for higher quality and more affordable ground services at Armenian International Airport.

ASTA Armenia Chapter  - The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is the world's largest, most prestigious association of travel professionals. The mission of the American Society of Travel Agents and its affiliated organizations is to enhance the professionalism and profitability of members worldwide through effective representation in industry and government affairs, education and training, and by identifying and meeting the needs of the traveling public. The Armenian Chapter of ASTA is actively involved in tourism development in Armenia through organizing annual international tourism fairs.

Armenian Project Management Association - APMA is a newly registered professional association in the Republic of Armenia, and is a self sustaining organization focused on providing a network for project management professionals. It is promoting and developing services for its members to be able to provide high quality products and stimulate development of the Armenian economy. 

                                                                                                                                                               E-Content Association - ELBA, established in 2007, is a non-profit organization uniting legal entities involved in offering services in the field of e-content development, distribution and related infrastructure. The association provides a whole range of assistance to organizations acting in the field of e-content and multimedia development, addresses key issues of e-content and multimedia development, performs professional interest representation and interest protection for the members of the association, promotes the development of high-quality electronic and multimedia content, and provides members of the association with legal advice.

3D Modeling Association - The Armenian 3D Modeler Association was founded in November 2007. The Association groups together 50 high-level 3D modeling professionals representing all directions of 3D modeling. In the framework of its activities, this young Association is supporting the development of the 3D Modeling sector in Armenia and providing an holistic approach to its promotion within and outside of the country.

Union of Medical Producers and Importers: MPI was created on the initiative of a number of pharmaceutical companies in 2003. Since its creation has been promoting and actively participating in: the establishment and development of a competitive pharmaceutical sector in Armenia, cooperation between existing companies and development of the sector, the import of pharmaceutical products and the introduction of international quality standards.