For Release: December 02, 2002
Contact: John McDowell (202) 205-6941
john.mcdowell@sba.gov
SBA Number: 02-46 ADVO

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Armenian business owners and government representatives now have a firmer understanding of how public policy designed to encourage entrepreneurial success relies on solid research. At a briefing held today, representatives from the Armenian Small and Medium Enterprise Market Development Project and Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist of the SBA’s Office of Advocacy discussed these issues.

“I am pleased that the Armenians have such a strong interest in how solid research can affect public policy,” said Moutray. “Armenia faces a lack of good, governmentally collected survey data. We know that good data makes for good policy, so we focused our discussion on how to make the best use of available data,” he said.

The Armenian delegation included members of the Merchants Union, the Union of Manufacturers & Businessmen of Armenia, the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National Center of Armenia, and the Association of Tanneries of Armenia. The delegation travels next to Denver, CO where they will meet with Regional Advocate Jim Henderson.

The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) conducts virtually all of the federal government’s research into small business issues and entrepreneurial success. Recent reports have highlighted the role of university research and development in creating economic growth, ranked commercial banks and larger bank holding companies based on their small business loans, and determined that federal government contract bundling has reached a 10-year high.

For more information, visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo.

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Created by Congress in 1976, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy directs the office. The Chief Counsel advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. Economic research, policy analyses, and small business outreach help identify issues of concern. Regional Advocates and an office in Washington, DC, support the Chief Counsel’s efforts. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, visit http://www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.