Yerevan, June 23
On June 23 Afic held a Network round-table meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to finalize the project activities and achievements and to discuss further steps for follow-up actions. By the request of many Afic partners was invited also the Head of the Department of State Revenue Committee Mr. Karen Beglaryan (who is responsible for customs procedures and administration) to participate in the meeting. He presented the last developments in customs system associated to economic reforms and told about the steps undertaken within the framework of anti-crisis measures. Mr. Beglaryan answered also to questions of participants, took notes about the cases described by importers creating difficulties for barriers for businessmen and promised to follow up and discuss these cases with his colleagues in the SRC and find right solutions.

Dilijan, June 02
On June 2 AFIC conducted a workshop in Dilijan town on the theme “Improving Advocacy Skills for Policy Reform”. The purpose of workshop was to introduce and discuss workable advocacy mechanisms and improve the advocacy skills and collaborative practices of local community based organizations for promoting policy reforms. Many specific for provinces issues related to SME policy reform were raised an discussed by event particpants. 21 participants representing local business community, business associations and business support organizations attended the event.

Yerevan, May 19
On May 19, AFIC conducted a round-table discussion organized in collaboration with UNIDO Armenia office. The round-table was devoted to discussion of SME policy reform and state support programs, export policy development mechanisms for SMEs (within the framework of anti-crisis measures). The key presentation on the main topic was made by Mr. Ishkhan Karapetyan, executive director of SME Development National Center (the responsible agency for implementation of SME state policy and support programs). Mr. Karapetyan in details presented the SME support programs implemented by their Center and informed about the status of SME policy legislative reform promoted also by our Network (he mentioned about our efforts for policy changes too in his presentation). According to his information the draft on policy changes in SME legislation is in process of last review and will be very soon submitted (by Ministry of Economy) to the Government for confirmation after which will be presented to National Assembly for adoption. After the presentation Mr. Karapetyan answered to the questions of representatives of different business associations, SME community, and experts from international organizations (UNIDO, USAID projects related to private sector development). During the second part of the round-table the UNIDO representative presented a program aimed at export promotion for SME sector targeting at consolidation of efforts of business associations for development of exporting opportunities and policy for SMEs.

Yerevan, April 17
A Roundtable was held in Yerevan (Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry) with members of Business Advocacy Network on the topic "Taxation in the SME Sector: Trends in the Tax Reform Agenda." During the event the representative of the State Tax Inspectorate spoke on the status of SME sector tax reforms. Following the presentation, the representatives of Network member organizations, other business associations, and the media asked questions and voiced their views on the government's approach to taxation issues affecting the SME community.

Yerevan, April 3
A Round Table discussion was organized by AFIC with the Armenian business community and the Ministry of Economy of RA in Yerevan (Golden Tulip Hotel). The head of the Ministry's economic policy and strategic development department presented the government's consept and programs for responding to the global economic crisis to the participants representing different businesses, business support organizations, media. Following the presentation, participants provided comments and recommendations for improving the government's strategy. AFIC will compile a formal summary of participants' viewpoints to submit to the government in the coming weeks.

Yerevan, October 28
AFIC conducted a meeting of Network member organizations which was held in Yerevan Chamber of Commerce. The meeting was devoted to the discussion of issues of effective coordination of public advocacy activities of Network member and other partner organizations. The participants were also informed and updated about the details on Bologna issue.

Yerevan, December 24
AFIC conducted a meeting of Network member and other partner organizations. The main topic of the agenda was initial discussion of recommendations and comments to the new draft Law on SME State Support. The representative of the SME Development National Center gave explanations and answered to the questions of business community and NGO representatives concerning the draft document.

Vayk, August 8
Dilijan, September 10
2 workshops were organized in towns of Vayk and Dilijan aimed at mobilization of grassroots constituencies for building the advocacy capacity for SME reform initiatives.

Gavar, November 14
An advocacy skills development workshop was held in the town of Gavar (in local Chamber of Commerce and Industry). The main agenda topics were: specifics of advocacy techniques and leadership in communities, development of effective public-private dialogue and public policy monitoring at local level. The specifics of recently adopted tax reforms for SMEs were also discussed during the meeting.

Yerevan, July 17, Golden Tulip Hotel
The roundtable was devoted to the discussion of SME reform initiative and perspectives for effective local policy implementation. The roundtable brought together representatives of private sector, business associations, business support organizations and local governance bodies (mayors and heads of local administrations).