An interview of “ARARAT 13” magazine with Saribek Sukiasyan.
Mr. Sukiasyan, according to the opinion formed among certain part of the society, anyone can achieve success in business. One simply needs, as they say “initial capital”, “good contacts” and “for all to go well”. Is this opinion grounded?
Certainly not. You cannot do something you aren’t able to. All these things you enumerated – “capital”, “contacts” or suppose, having a monopolistic position in any field of economy, boorishness or swindling may make one rich, may bring temporary success, however that is not called “business”. Actual success is not served on a tray. As an example I could speak about the road of our family in business. We started doing business in the late 1980s when Gorbachev declared the so-called “Perestroyka” (reconstruction) that created an opportunity to do business. My father and we –my brothers and I thought that some things were changing in the country, that there was an opportunity for self-realization not only through seeking a government position, and it would be possible to provide for the family not only through “underground business”. We established our family business and started to produce spare parts for cars and household plastic goods that were highly demanded in Russia. We happened to get rid of Soviet way of thinking quite easily and acquire business rules rather fast. When the process of privatization launched throughout the country we started to invest the profit of our activities into various fields of industry and trade. To-day this is called diversification, but in those days such words were unknown to us and we used to find the right solution by intuition. Later we started to study the market very carefully and spend money on analyses and read professional literature. But one of the most significant components of our business was the fact that we were able to evaluate the importance of human factor in business and we invited educated, freely thinking young people. We began to work with them, to raise them and grow with them. For a long time there was no outflow of management staff of SIL. At present we are a group of people with identical ideas and led by corporative interests.
Does it mean that the clue to success was starting business in the late 80s?
No, that’s not the matter. Perhaps, today the competitive area is harder, but I must say that one may have the chance of the lifetime at any period. All places cannot be taken and there is always some space for development. Otherwise, it would be impossible to found any new business in the West, as at the first blush, all branches seem to be occupied. One simply should be more intelligent and more hardworking to find some fresh solutions. After all we also faced various challenges, but the way we were brought up by our parents, our unanimity, consistency proved to be fruitful. Undoubtedly, I would like to note one more circumstance: my elder brother Khachatur’s business abilities and his unique high human characteristics. My elder brother was our impellent in business projects; his economic mind was encouraging us.
And in what case wouldn’t you have succeeded?
I don’t know the answer to that question as the key opening all doors doesn’t exist. Imagine everybody is successful whatever they touch, turns into gold. However, that does not happen. On the other hand, I do have a recipe for success, but that doesn’t mean to be universal. The recipe is rather simple: you had better not deceive yourself, seek your goals, not get disappointed even in most desperate situations. You need to have a family that loves you and whom you love. The environment is also important-it should provide you with an opportunity to development and certainly education. Perhaps, you should also have parents and brothers like mine he is smiling).
Is there anybody among businessmen to whom you look up to?
I would rather put it this way, there are people whose economic talents I admire. For example, Nobel prize winner Mohammed Unus from Bangladesh. He implemented a new system of micro-loans: he provided micro-loans to poor farmers in his country without any security contract, i.e. the only guarantee was the word of the beneficiary. I believe Unus committed a miracle, today as far as I know the banks has 7 million debtors and repayment amounts to 99%. Due to Unus’ project the level of poverty has reduced by 10%. Or another brilliant manager Lee Yakokka. He was able to set to feet FORD being on the verge of bankruptcy and then Chrysler. They are heroes of their times. And there are more like them.
Sukiasyan’s business is diversified; you do business in various fields of economy. But what area needs more attention, which one requires more responsibility or is more preferred.
The most responsible was perhaps ARMECONOMBANK and I have been Chairman of Board of the bank for several years already. You must know that to-day it is one of the greatest financial institutions of Armenia and European bank for Reconstruction and Development is among its shareholders. The banking work required great efforts and many sleepless nights. Here again we have a group of young managers who administer banking activities. It is an established structure and frankly speaking I give less time to the bank’s management. I will explain the reason. When the situation is grave (and this was the case when we had just bought the bank), I am much interested in managing the situation, as soon as the situation becomes normal, everything is under control I get a little bit bored. I mean I prefer crisis management.
Do you manage to lead the huge business structure called SIL-GROUP ?
First of all I am doing that not alone but with my father and brothers. As a matter of fact, despite being quite elderly, he still gets up very early and as he himself says, ‘’goes to work” just the way he used to do 20, 30 or 40 years ago, although he could have retired long ago.
And do you have free time, do you manage to rest?
Sure I do. In my free time (and that happens at night) I sleep (smiles). I have a twelve-hour working day. It happens that even late in the evening directors of various units or specialists visit me to schedule work. But I do not treat that employment that makes you tired. Not, that is my style of life that I enjoy. I am also trying to give much time to my family. I say much because my family is not simply my wife and three daughters, but also my brothers, my sister, their families and children. Perhaps, not everybody knows that all my three brothers and I live under one roof – in our native house which has been reconstructed, although we could have built separate luxurious mansions. This is happiness, too. This might also be the guarantee of our success when the large family gathers round the dinner table.
I dedicate my free time to my daughters. I pay much attention to my children’s education, development, awareness. I signify their future. I believe the best investment for any parent is good education, upbringing of children and not a legacy of stocks or wealth. In a word I prefer family environment.
It may seem too positive in my story, but that’s what I am like. My associates, my friends can witness that I am not fond of excesses or luxury. I also stay away from the so-called group-grapes. I use no alcohol. I do not smoke. It is not true that drinks can reduce the tension. For instance, reading a book is much better than drinking. We have a good library and my friends always bring something new to read.
What are you reading at the moment?
Japanese author Teru Takakuro’s “Waters of Khakoney. Often I come back to William Saroyan’s short stories. Recently I have been reading works of historians describing life and work of great people.
Do you use a computer?
I am rather conservative in that sense, a pen and paper are more convenient for me to work with. I use the Internet to check my mail, follow the news. But most of the materials are presented to me in printed form.
Why your business structure is called SIL?
The name SIL has some secret meaning for our family and it is connected with our family name, with the place we were born and grew up. I mean Silachi. I believe SIL has already become not only the property of our family, but it belongs to our employees as well, to the society and to all those who respect our work.
It is not a secret that recent years were full of ordeals both for you and your family. Didn’t it occur to you to take up politics?
Politics, political system, its intrigues are not close to me. And the further business and politics stay each other, the better for business and state and the citizens as well. Of course, the state and business have common interests and interdependence. I have mentioned a lot of times that no conditions of civilized business have been created in Armenia. The state must direct the process of formation of rules and values. Should normal rules, competitive environment be formed, the country will progress; otherwise we will have whatever we have.