The Armenian International Policy Research Group (AIPRG) is holding its Annual International Conference entitled “Looking Forward: Global Competitiveness of the Armenian Economy” at World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., on May 17-18, 2008.

Since its formation in 2002, AIPRG has been committed to consolidating expertise on Armenia, as well as developing a new generation of Armenian economists and public policy professionals.  These goals have been advanced through a number of successful AIPRG initiatives, including previous annual AIPRG conferences, the publication of the Armenian Journal of Public Policy, and an active AIPRG office in Yerevan.

The upcoming Conference will build upon these successes and continue dialogue on Armenian-related issues among representatives from leading Armenian and international institutions and members of the Diaspora.  Conference participants include representatives from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Armenian Ministry of Trade and Development, Duke University, and the private sector.  Research presented at the conference will be considered for publication in a forthcoming edition of the Armenian Journal of Public Policy. 

The official language of the conference is English.  The conference is supported by the Government of Armenia and sponsored by the World Bank, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Eurasia Partnership Foundation.

To learn more about the conference and to register for attendance please go to www.aiprg.net.  Please note that RSVPs are required to ensure access to the World Bank's premises and all services provided at the conference.  Please email any questions to our Yerevan office at annual_conference@aiprg.net.

DRAFT – Conference Program

Day 1: Saturday, May 17

8:00 AM    Registration and Coffee

9:00 AM    Introduction and Welcoming Remarks

9:30 AM    Session I – Exchange Rate Dynamics

Chair:    Lorenzo Perez, the Deputy Director of the MCD Department, IMF

Dealing with Dramatic Appreciation: Is the Armenian Dram Still Competitive?

Gohar Minasyan, Boston College, USA

Nienke Oomes, International Monetary Fund, Armenia

Exchange Rates Dynamics and Macroeconomic Performance in Armenia

Vahé Heboyan, University of Georgia, USA

Discussants:        

King Banaian, St. Cloud State University

11:00 AM    Coffee Break

11:15 AM    Session II – Productivity and Market Structure

Chair:    Herman Wijffels, Executive Director for the Netherlands, the World Bank

Productivity Trends and Competitiveness Issues in Armenia

Karen Grigorian, World Bank, Armenia

Vahram Stepanyan, World Bank, Armenia

Bank Efficiency and Market Structure: What Determines Banking Spreads in Armenia?

Era Dabla-Norris, International Monetary Fund

Holger Floerkemeier, International Monetary Fund

Discussants:    

Garbis Iradian, International Monetary Fund

12:45 PM    Lunch

2:00 PM    Session III –  Aid, Growth, and the Competitiveness of the Armenian Economy

Chair:     John Evans, Former US Ambassador to Armenia

Armenia’s Millennium Challenge Account Compact: Demonstrating Impact on Growth and Poverty Reduction in Rural Armenia

Kenneth Fortson, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Anahit Petrosyan, Millennium Challenge Corporation -- Armenia

Institutional Capacity Building for Armenia’s Knowledge-based Economy

Charles Dunlap, Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF)

The Competitiveness of the Armenian Private Sector: Goals, Challenges, and the Role of the CAPS Projects

Donald Niss, Nathan Associates

C. Martin Webber, J. E. Austin Associates, Inc.

Discussants:

Arthur Petrosian, Chief Scientific Review Officer, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health

3:30 PM    Coffee Break

4:00 PM    Session IV – Growth Sectors: Tourism & IT

Chair:    TBA

Implications of Armenian Currency Appreciation for the Competitiveness of Armenian Tourism, IT, and Food Processing Industries

Mher Baghramyan, AIPRG, Armenia

Vahram Ghushchyan, Ministry of Economy, Armenia

Challenges and Opportunities, a View from an Entrepreneur

Paul Korian

New Strategic National ICT Vision in Armenia is Required

Meri Duryan, UITE, Armenia

Discussants:

TBA

7:00 PM    Reception at the Armenian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Day 2: Sunday, May 18

9:00 AM    Registration, Coffee

9:30 AM    Session I – Institutions, Regulations, and Market Reforms

Chair:    TBA

Competitiveness of the Armenian Private Sector: Moving to the next Stage

Manuk Hergnyan, Economy and Values Research Center

Gagik Gabrielyan, Economy and Values Research Center

Anna Makaryan, Economy and Values Research Center

The Impact of Private and Corporate Interests on Public Policy Making in Armenia

Anna Aghumian, UNDP

Advancing Microfinance and Community Economic Development in Armenia

Nelly Lejter, American University of Armenia

David Miller, Southern New Hampshire University

Discussants:

TBA

11:00    Break

11:15 AM    Session II – The Role of the Diaspora

Chair:    Ara Khanjian, Claremont McKenna College

Enhancing the Role of the Diaspora in Promoting Armenia’s Sustainable Development

Gohar Gyulumyan, Duke University

Remittances and Migration

Heghine Manasyan, Caucasus Research Resource Center-Armenia [via video from Yerevan]

Discussants:

TBA

12:45 PM    Lunch

2:00 PM    Session II – Education

Chair: Tamar Manuelyan Atinc, Director, Human Development Department

    Europe and Central Asia Region, The World Bank

Model of Knowledge-based Economy for Armenia

Hayk L. Sargsyan, Yerevan State University, Armenia

Kristine Antonyan, Yerevan State University, Armenia

Business education in Armenia as a driver for competitiveness and social innovation

Nelly Lejter, American University of Armenia

Rubina Ohanian, American University of Armenia

Key Management Issues of Armenian Educational System

Serob Khachatryan, Yerevan State University, Armenia

The main Challenges and Possibilites of Matching the Higher Education Sector with the 

Labor Market

Aleksandr Hakobyan, AIPRG, Armenia

Discussant:

Nicole Vartanian, Hunter College

4:00 PM     Adjourn