In a conversation with Irina Chobanyan, Executive Director of the Armenian British Business Chamber, ABBC, Regional Post explores the organization's current trajectory and future outlook.
Interview : Margarit Mirzoyan Photo : ABBC
To start with, what is ABBC, and what drives its mission?
The Armenian British Business Chamber (ABBC) is a business membership organization, BMO, created by local, UK, and multinational companies to represent their interests in Armenia. The Chamber’s core mission is creating value for its members by enhancing Armenia’s business environment and strengthening Armenia-UK trade and economic ties. In this role, ABBC serves as the primary business partner of the British Embassy in Yerevan.
And of course, as a BMO, around 80 large, medium, and small companies currently comprise the ABBC membership representing more than 10 sectors of the economy.
How is ABBC structured in terms of ownership and stakeholders?
ABBC is a non-governmental organisation where member companies serve as the main stakeholders of the organisation, while also comprising the main governing body of the Chamber - the General Assembly.
At the same time, the governance of the Chamber’s strategic direction operates on the basis of rotational leadership, specifically through the biennial Board of Directors’ election from within its membership. In this important process, all ABBC members (the General Assembly) not only have the opportunity to nominate their companies for a position in the Board of Directors, but also have the right to elect their preferred representatives.
The final governing body of the Chamber is the Executive Team, led by the Executive Director, who is appointed by the Board of Directors and who serves as the main execution lead of the Board’s strategic decision-making.
As a business membership organization, why should companies become ABBC members? What specific benefits can these companies expect from ABBC membership?
As is the case with all business membership organizations, ABBC provides its members with diverse growth opportunities, depending on the organization’s stages of development. Currently, we specifically work and create value for our members within four important functions – business development, information/knowledge sharing, advocacy, and bilateral relations.
The upcoming year is about to be monumental for ABBC. In 2025 the Armenian British Business Chamber will mark its 15th anniversary, which simultaneously aligns with the launch of ABBC Business Guide’s very first publication.
Could you elaborate on each of these four functions?
Business Development:
ABBC is on a continuous watch for various business development opportunities for its members, including through targeted events organisation, various member promotion platforms, or through individual B2B and B2C matchmaking.
ABBC unofficial networking “Thirsty Thursdays” and seasonal celebrations are some of the event series that provide the members with tangible opportunities to network and create additional value for their businesses, both within the membership and with outside parties, including other business membership organisations, international missions and organisations, or the public sector.
Finally, to ensure business development through promotional platforms, ABBC has different channels of member promotion, including the Chamber’s quarterly newsletter, ABBC Insider, regular targeted e-mail disseminations, social media publicity (Facebook, Linkedin), and much more.
Information/Knowledge Sharing:
Besides creating valuable business development opportunities, ABBC provides its members with value through sharing important information, knowledge, and expertise, whether from within the ABBC network or from outside parties, like international organisations and missions.
In addition, most ABBC events specifically target knowledge-sharing as the core component of event organisation, including the Chamber’s quarterly “Business Talk” discussions, during which ABBC members from various sectors have the opportunity to both introduce their businesses and share important sector-specific knowledge and know-how.
Advocacy:
ABBC also serves as a one-stop-shop for any legislative updates, while also providing a united front for the businesses to raise, monitor, and follow up on any legislative issues that might potentially prevent growth opportunities for local and international businesses operating in Amenia. Thus, heavily emphasising the importance of public-private collaboration (both in Armenia and the UK) in advocacy efforts, specifically to ensure sustainable growth and development of the local business community.
Bilateral Relations:
Building on the Chamber’s mission component of strengthening Armenia-UK trade and economic ties, ABBC gradually increases its presence in the UK market, including through bilateral events, UK-registered membership base, and most recently launched ABBC UK Representation Programme. Within the ABBC UK Representation Programme framework, in 2024, ABBC appointed its UK-registered member representatives to work closely on Chamber operations organisation in the UK and to serve as the main information/resource-sharing and business development source for fellow members.
Most importantly, ABBC serves as the primary business partner of the British Embassy in Yerevan, regularly partnering with Embassy colleagues for targeted events/project organisation and available resource sharing, while also holding a seat at ABBC Board of Directors specifically for British Embassy Yerevan representative - His Majesty’s Deputy Head of Mission in Yerevan.
Looking ahead, what are some important dates on ABBC's calendar?
The upcoming year is about to be monumental for ABBC. In 2025 the Armenian British Business Chamber will mark its 15th anniversary, which simultaneously aligns with the launch of ABBC Business Guide’s very first publication. So, let’s say, our next upcoming milestone is March 2025, when we will elect the ABBC new Board of Directors, celebrate the Chamber’s 15th anniversary, and of course, mark all the recent achievements and growth within the organization.
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