Armenia women’s national football team head coach Mariam Stepanyan has participated in the UEFA Coach Mentor Programme in Oslo, Norway.

The UEFA Coach Mentor Programme is a dedicated mentorship initiative that pairs experienced, elite-level coaches with promising up-and-coming coaches.

The Football Federation of Armenia said in a press release that participants study leadership, match management, career guidance, and other areas.

Poland women’s national football team head coach Nina Patalon served as Stepanyan’s mentor in the programme.

During her stay in Norway, Stepanyan attended the Women’s Champions League final between Barcelona and Lyon at the stadium.

FlyOne Armenia has launched flights from Yerevan to Batumi, Georgia’s second-largest city, the Armenian airport administration said in a press release.

The round-trip flights will operate three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, “Armenia International Airports” CJSC said.

Ameriabank press release 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Ameriabank have signed a loan agreement of up to $100 million to expand access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Armenia, including women-led businesses, and to scale up green investments.

The financing will support MSMEs across the country, helping businesses invest in growth, improve competitiveness, and adopt more sustainable practices. This project represents ADB’s largest private sector transaction in Armenia to date.

“This project will expand access to finance for MSMEs — especially women-owned enterprises — while advancing green investments in Armenia,” said ADB Armenia Country Director Lyaziza Sabyrova. “By providing longer-term financing, we are supporting businesses to grow, create jobs, and contribute to a more inclusive and climate-resilient economy.”

The project includes a loan of up to $100 million, with up to 75% allocated for MSME lending and at least 25% for green finance, including renewable energy and energy efficiency. At least 10% of the financing will support women-owned MSMEs.

Hovhannes Toroyan, Chief Financial Officer at Ameriabank, commented: “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with the ADB in supporting MSMEs across Armenia through greater access to affordable financing. As Armenia’s largest lender, with a strong focus on green and sustainable finance, we remain committed to driving inclusive growth and supporting the country’s long-term economic development.”

MSMEs are central to Armenia’s economy, accounting for nearly 70% of employment and over 65% of gross domestic product, yet the need for financing among them remains high.

ADB will also provide technical assistance of up to $125,000 to strengthen Ameriabank’s capacity, including support for financial integrity systems and the establishment of a sustainability competence center.

The project supports Armenia’s efforts to promote private sector development, expand access to finance, and advance climate-resilient growth.

Ameriabank CJSC

Ameriabank is a leading financial and technology company in Armenia, a major contributor to the Armenian economy. In line with its digital transformation strategy, the bank continually introduces and enhances innovative products, services and platforms designed to meet the evolving financial and non-financial needs of its customers. Ameriabank, as a dynamically growing fintech space, offers seamless solutions to improve the quality of life.

The Bank is supervised by the Central Bank of Armenia.

About ADB

ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members – 50 from the region.

The Yerevan Wine Days festival is marking its 10th anniversary this year, with organizers planning a wide range of special events for the milestone.

On June 5, 6, and 7, Saryan, Tumanyan, and Moskovyan streets in Yerevan will once again be filled with a variety of wines, competitions, live concerts, and diverse cultural programs.

EventToura co-founder Mary Badalyan said that the festival will kick off with a winemakers’ parade.

“On June 5 at 6:30 p.m., I invite everyone to Tumanyan Street in Yerevan, where 100 winemakers will enter the festival area in a grand parade,” she said at a press conference. “This is truly a moment of pride, as we have a large number of participating winemakers, and more than 1,000 varieties of wine will be presented at the festival.”

The 10th anniversary edition of the festival will not be limited to wine alone, with strong emphasis also placed on gastrotourism, national dress, and cultural traditions. The program will include workshops, master classes, and live concerts.

According to Nune Manukyan, co-founder of EventToura, the festival has become one of the key events in Armenia’s event tourism sector over the past decade, bringing together wine enthusiasts from around the world.

“Over the years, the geography of our participants has expanded significantly, with visitors coming from Scandinavian countries, England, and Australia, which is very encouraging for us,” she said. “Our goal was to make Armenia recognized as a cradle of wine, and ten years later we can confidently say that we have achieved that.”

The festival also carries significant economic importance. During the previous edition, 250 participating partners — not only winemakers — generated a turnover of $2.5 million over three days.

The head of the Yerevan City Hall Department of Culture and Tourism, Gosh Sargsyan, said that Yerevan Wine Days is an important part of the capital’s cultural identity, noting that the popular and much-anticipated festival brings significant activity to the city and attracts numerous tourists.

“The Yerevan Municipality provides financial support to the festival, and I am very pleased that over the years it has become such an important event and tourism product that we proudly present to our international partners,” he said.

He also noted that Yerevan will be particularly active in early June. Alongside Yerevan Wine Days, a ballet festival will also take place. On June 1, International Children’s Day, a large-scale program is planned, with events scheduled from 12:00 across Freedom Square, the area near Swan Lake, and along Northern Avenue.

Moscow has again said that Armenia could lose its preferential price for imported Russian gas if it chooses to leave the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the price of imported gas could be formed on a regular market basis, according to the TASS news agency.

“We have heard statements from the Armenian leadership that there is an attractive, preferential price for Russian gas and Russian energy resources. That is indeed the case; Russia continues to be a reliable and responsible supplier of energy resources for all countries, especially close allies and partners,” Peskov said, while also noting that such a regime is not possible for participants in other integrations, including the European Union.

According to him, pricing in that market segment is entirely different and market-based. “Our friends in Yerevan are well aware of this,” he said.

Peskov also noted that the question of Armenia’s future path of economic integration remains open, recalling that during his recent visit to Moscow, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia remains a full member of the Eurasian Economic Union, while at the same time developing relations along other foreign policy vectors, particularly with Europe.

Russia sells natural gas to Armenia for $177.50 per thousand cubic meters, while in Europe it costs up to $633 per thousand cubic meters.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that Armenia and Russia continue to maintain friendly relations.

As fellow member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, the two countries remain in dialogue and continue to be friends, he said, according to the TASS news agency.

“We continue the dialogue, we continue to maintain dialogue with our Armenian friends, and we will continue to do so in the future,” TASS quoted Peskov as saying at a press briefing.

Asked again whether Moscow and Yerevan are friends, Peskov replied: “Absolutely. We are engaged in the most advanced integration processes with Armenia. We know that in Armenia there are political forces that fully support the Russian vector of development and are focused on deepening participation in integration processes involving Russia. Undoubtedly, we welcome such an approach, and we do not hide it,” he said.

Armenia’s financial system continued to grow throughout 2025, maintaining a high capacity to withstand shocks, Central Bank Governor Martin Galstyan has said.

Presenting the 2025 Financial Stability Report, Galstyan said growth was recorded across all sectors of the system.

According to him, the assets of the banking system continue to account for the majority of the financial system’s total assets—around 82%.

Galstyan added that pension funds rank second in terms of asset size, with a 9.3% share, and their assets have grown faster than those of all other segments.

In 2025, the banking system’s loan portfolio to the economy grew by about 23%, while deposits in the banking system increased by 13%.

Over the past three years, loan growth has almost twice exceeded annual deposit growth. This means that the high demand for credit in the economy has also been financed using the banking system’s capital, Galstyan said.

He noted that high growth rates were recorded in both household and business lending.

According to the Central Bank Governor, the strong expansion of lending has mainly been driven by robust income growth in the economy. In the case of mortgage lending, a natural slowdown in growth rates has been observed, while the volume of new disbursements has continued to remain high.

The Central Bank chief emphasized that in the lending process, it is important to properly assess borrowers’ debt burden and their ability to service it. This assessment should take into account not only the current macroeconomic environment but also risk estimates derived from potential pessimistic scenarios.

He added that amid economic income growth and high lending activity, the share of non-performing loans and credit losses has remained at a low level.

Speaking about the real estate market, Galstyan noted that in 2025 there has been a relative stabilization in demand, as well as a slowdown in price growth trends.

He also stated that the price-to-rent ratio for residential real estate in Armenia has increased, which could reduce the investment attractiveness of real estate. In recent years, there has been some slight growth in prices, while rental rates have declined.

Galstyan said that in recent years, the strong growth in lending to the construction sector and the continuous increase in the area of residential buildings commissioned could, in the context of a gradual saturation of real estate demand, create risks of excess supply and an increase in credit losses on construction loans.

He added that, by year-end, the banking system recorded high profitability, mainly driven by the growth of net interest income, which is largely the result of increased volumes amid expanding financial intermediation. The banking system’s capital adequacy ratio remained at a high level.

Galstyan also emphasized that in 2025, among financial stability risks, those stemming from high global political and economic uncertainty continue to be dominant.

He noted that in 2026, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has caused a significant negative supply shock to the global economy, leading to a sharp rise in energy prices and increased volatility in financial markets. According to assessments, even if the conflict ends, the world will continue to feel its effects for several months.

Among domestic risks, he stressed that the potential accumulation of credit risks due to high growth rates in lending remains a key concern.

The Economic Activity Indicator (EAI) in Armenia increased by 7.1% in April 2026 compared to the same month last year, and by 6% compared to the previous month, according to a government press release.

During the reporting period, compared to the same period last year, key sectors of the economy grew as follows:

 • Construction: 24.7%

 • Industry: 11.7%

 • Services: 9.1%

 • Trade turnover: 0.1%

In April 2026, Armenia’s foreign trade turnover declined by 13.8% year-on-year. Exports fell by 25.9%, while imports decreased by 5.8%.

During the same period, consumer price inflation stood at 5.3% year-on-year, according to the press release.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 25 May, USD exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 368.01 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.74 drams to 428.44 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.0282 drams to 5.1334 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.52 drams to 496.45 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 17 drams to 53316 drams.

The International Astronomical Union’s Conference on Astronomy for Education and Public Outreach (CAP2026) opened in the Armenian capital on May 25.

The conference has brought together specialists in astronomy communication and public outreach from nearly every continent, who arrived in Armenia to exchange experience, develop professional skills and create new opportunities for cooperation.

The topics under discussion mainly focus on science journalism, the application of artificial intelligence in astronomy communication, social media, public educational astronomy programmes and modern tools for science popularisation.

The conference in Yerevan is attended by 85 delegates from 34 countries, while the number of participants joining remotely is nearly three times higher. In total, 213 delegates from 56 countries are involved in the conference.

Participants were welcomed by Areg Mickaelian, director of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, who wished them productive work and also spoke about the public significance of astronomy and the importance of promoting the field, particularly in the current era of rapid technological development. He noted that Armenia is hosting a conference of this kind for the first time, adding that the event is held every two years.

“Astronomy popularisation encompasses various professional fields, including science journalism, particularly astronomical journalism, scientific tourism, educational programmes and others. Accordingly, the conference is attended not only by astronomers, but also by specialists from other sectors. The topics discussed are primarily related to the popularisation of astronomy through modern technologies, including artificial intelligence. Various applications and platforms have been presented. The RingCentral remote communication platform being used allows participants to simultaneously follow events and discussions taking place in three different halls,” he told Armenpress.

Among the first day’s presentations, Mickaelian highlighted the speech by Pamela Gay of the United States, which focused on the use of artificial intelligence methods in science communication.

He also noted that work will soon begin on officially naming various stars after prominent Armenian scientists or locations associated with astronomy. For that purpose, the Armenian side will apply to the relevant commission of the International Astronomical Union.

The international conference will conclude on May 29.

Armenia has previously hosted seven conferences of the International Astronomical Union dedicated to various topics.