We take care of your anonymity.
We take care of your anonymity.
On 20 March, the Armenian Lawyers’ Association (ALA) organized a training on “Anti-Corruption Compliance in Business” for the representatives of small and medium-sized businesses operating in Gyumri, in the scope of the “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project implemented by the “Centre for International Private Enterprise”, the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO, the “Corporate Governance Centre” NGO and the “Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry” with financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy. The objective of the project is to introduce the Anti-Corruption Compliance Standards within the Armenian business community, which will contribute to dissemination of corporate governance and ethical values in Armenia.
Ms Viktoria Yeghoyan, Head of Gyumri branch of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, welcomed the participants saying “Our organization will provide support by introducing the anti-corruption compliance program in your Businesses. This is a Unique Opportunity” she said.
Business representatives described the definition of corruption as “corruption” in the state bodies, and in their viewpoint, it would be difficult to eliminate it from the private sector unless it disappears in the state bodies.
However, there were representatives who were more or less familiar with the concept. For example, Ms Vehanush Mazmanyan is a Human Resources Management and Public Relations Specialist at “Gyumri Commercial Center” Limited Liability Company. The company has about 80 employees and operates several hotels ans restaurants. She notes that the company has provisions on ethics in its charter, and even frequent events are organized. “For example, in the programming office all staff are programmers and have the same mentality, in our case it is different, we have security, the service sector, the heads of different departments, and the difference in employee thinking is very noticeable. In many cases, ethical events are organized not only for separate units, but also for the whole company.
An Anti-Corruption Compliance Program will be a benefit to the extent that all we do for fight against corruption in different ways, now we will be able to conduct it more systematically and have a joint plan. Later, if we will cooperate with other organizations and this shall becomes an advantage or requirement over time, we will point our program and prove that it is operational,” Vehanush Mazmanyan said.
According to her, corruption in Gyumri is minimized, and it is not accepted by citizens.
“Magnon” Open Joint-Stock Company is engaged in the construction of children’s playgrounds. The company has about 20 employees. Representative of the organization Mr. Armen Avetisyan mentioned that there are regular personal conversations with the employees on the destructiveness of corruption, as the company had faced with various forms of corruption which were mostly in the procurement sphere. He noted that during the procurement tenders the relevant authorities had presented such technical specifications that they did not meet the requirements and only one particular organization met those, or they have not been aware of the tender at all.
“We are going to make a larger scale production, start exporting and think that this program will give us a certain advantage, the confidence will increase among our foreign partners, and we will be confident that we will be able to better organize it. We can say that we are an exemplary company, and if other companies take an example from us and the number of such companies would grow, the positive impact will already be visible,” Armen Avetisyan said.
The representatives of the training filled pre- and post-tests on their knowledge on and attitude towards corruption. They also played the game of "5 why", mainly why they need to introduce the Anti-Corruption Compliance Programs in their businesses. The last group assignement was analyzing corruption risks in their own businesses and presenting a plan on their elimination.
This material has been prepared in the scope of the “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project implemented by the “Centre for International Private Enterprise”, the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO, the “Corporate Governance Centre” NGO and the “Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry” with financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy. The contents of this material are the sole responsibility of the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the National Endowment for Democracy.
