Month: April 2026

The Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs has spent the past 6.5 years, since its inception, modernizing Armenia–Diaspora relations through practical programs aimed at strengthening engagement, increasing transparency, and expanding professional cooperation.

In an episode of the Armenpress Podcast, High Commissioner Zareh Sinanyan said the period has been marked by significant developments in global Armenian life that have also shaped the office’s work.

According to Sinanyan, the core focus has been making Armenia–Diaspora relations more “practical and reality-based,” as well as ensuring greater transparency in Armenia’s political and public administration systems for Diaspora communities.

To achieve these goals, several programs have been implemented, including the “iGorts” fellowship program, which enables Diaspora professionals to work in Armenia’s public sector for one year, contributing their expertise and experience. Due to strong interest from Diaspora specialists, the initially planned 20 positions were expanded to around 50.

He noted that in the first year of the program alone, nearly 900 applications were submitted for about 20 positions.

Sinanyan highlighted that around 70% of participants have remained in Armenia, continuing their professional careers in both the private and public sectors.

Another active and popular initiative is the “Step Toward Home” educational program, designed for Diaspora Armenian children aged 13–18, offering them a two-week visit to Armenia focused on cultural and educational discovery.

Interest in the program is also high; Sinanyan said around 1,500 applications were received this year for just 600 available spots.

He added that self-sustaining networks have been created in Diaspora communities through the “Diaspora Youth Ambassador” program. Within this initiative, Armenians aged 18–35 take part in a two-week educational program in Armenia and then return to their communities to implement initiatives for one year.

For the first time, a unified digital database of Diaspora human and professional potential has been created, enabling more structured cooperation.

Addressing the diversity of Diaspora communities, Sinanyan noted that significant differences exist among them, and while this diversity can make it difficult to form a unified agenda, Armenia and Armenian identity remain unifying factors.

Armenia’s top 1,000 taxpayers contributed more than 459.27 billion drams (about $1.24 billion) to the state budget in the first quarter of 2026, according to the State Revenue Committee (SRC).

The list was published by the SRC.

The figure is 49.9 billion drams higher than in the same period last year. In Q1 2025, the total stood at 409.353 billion drams.

The breakdown between tax authority payments and customs authority payments was 380.334 billion drams and 78.935 billion drams, respectively.

The top three taxpayers on the list of the 1,000 largest taxpayers are Mobile Center, a mobile phone retailer; Gazprom Armenia, the country’s gas distribution company; and the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine, a mining company.

Armenian airline Shirak Avia will launch flights from Yerevan to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on June 2, the airport operator has said.

According to a press release from Armenia International Airports, the round-trip flights will operate once a week, on Tuesdays.

A documentary series produced by the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has won two major honors at the Webby Awards, securing both the main prize and the public vote in the documentary category.

Heartbeat of Humanity was awarded the Webby Award, selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, as well as the Webby People’s Voice Award, chosen through more than four million public votes, The National reported.

The Heartbeat of Humanity films follow the work of recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity in 2025 and 2026, including Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who jointly received the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity for the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal. Among those featured are Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, food relief organization World Central Kitchen, teenage innovator Heman Bekele. The series also highlights Palestinian organization Taawon and Afghan education advocate Zarqa Yaftali.

The awards were announced ahead of the 30th annual ceremony, which will take place in New York City on May 11.

Often described as the “Oscars of the internet”, the Webbys recognize excellence across websites, apps and digital media. This year’s competition drew more than 13,000 submissions, with the Zayed Award’s series named among five finalists in a category that has previously honored major organizations including National Geographic, Netflix, The Washington Post and Business Insider.

Produced by Abu Dhabi-based creative group People, the films aim to document humanitarian efforts and promote the values of coexistence and solidarity.

Mohamed Abdelsalam, secretary-general of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, said the recognition underscored the growing role of storytelling in advancing humanitarian values.

“This global recognition is an important tribute to the award’s humanitarian mission, which has become an international platform for honoring inspiring models that promote the values of human fraternity around the world,” he said.

He added that the win reflected the ability of “sincere and creative storytelling” to resonate across cultures and borders, helping to inspire communities and create tangible impact.

Established in 1996, the Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, with a judging body comprising industry leaders, creatives and technology experts.

The U.S. Embassy in Armenia Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) program recently hosted an Armenian Border Guard visit to the U.S. to meet with their Department of State and Customs and Border Protection counterparts to discuss ongoing cooperation.

While in the U.S. they traveled to Washington, DC, El Paso, Texas and Artesia, New Mexico to witness CBP operations on the Mexican border and at the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, the embassy said in a press release.

Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office Arayik Harutyunyan visited the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex in Yerevan to inspect ongoing preparations for the 8th European Political Community Summit, scheduled to take place on May 4.

Harutyunyan is the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the EPC Summit in Yerevan.

According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office, Arayik Harutyunyan toured the venue and inspected ongoing preparatory work on-site. The Chief of Staff was presented with the work carried out ahead of the summit in areas including infrastructure and technical equipment, ensuring logistical accessibility, and other areas.

Harutyunyan emphasized the importance of properly organizing and conducting the summit at a high level and issued relevant instructions regarding the completion of the work.

Armenia’s economic activity grew by 7.1% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, driven by strong expansion in construction, industry, and services, according to official data.

In March alone, the indicator rose by 11.6% compared to February and by 6.6% compared to March 2025, according to data released by the Statistical Committee.

The Statistical Committee noted that the revisions in economic activity estimates are linked to the annual GDP revision schedule, under which sectoral weights in GDP were adjusted based on updated 2024 data and revised 2025 figures.

Sector performance

The construction sector recorded the highest growth, expanding by 22% in the reporting period. Construction output reached AMD 95.64 billion. In March, construction activity rose by 34.4% month-on-month and by 24% year-on-year, with AMD 41.69 billion worth of construction works carried out.

Industrial output grew by 13.4% in January–March compared to the same period last year, reaching AMD 748.8 billion. In March, industrial production fell by 2% compared to February but increased by 7% year-on-year, totaling AMD 256.52 billion.

Agricultural output declined by 5.2% in the first quarter year-on-year, amounting to AMD 96.36 billion.

Trade turnover grew by 2.1% in January–March, reaching AMD 1.44 trillion. In March, trade increased by 14.1% month-on-month and by 0.2% year-on-year, totaling AMD 550.55 billion.

Services (excluding trade) rose by 7.4% in the first quarter, reaching AMD 981.73 billion. In March, services increased by 12.6% compared to February and by 7.8% compared to March 2025, totaling AMD 351.42 billion.

Prices and inflation

The Consumer Price Index increased by 4.2% in January–March compared to the same period last year. In March, it rose by 0.7% month-on-month and by 4.5% year-on-year.

The Industrial Producer Price Index increased by 9.2% in the first quarter. In March, it rose by 0.1% compared to February and by 9.5% compared to March 2025.

Energy production

Armenia produced 2.66 billion kWh of electricity in January–March 2026, up 7.7% from the same period last year. In March, electricity production rose by 7.1% compared to February and by 9% year-on-year, reaching 840.9 million kWh.

The Statistical Committee noted that electricity produced by autonomous producers within power exchange flows is not included in these figures to ensure comparability.

Armenia’s foreign trade turnover recorded growth in the first quarter of 2026, even as March figures showed a noticeable decline, according to data released by the country’s Statistical Committee.

Foreign trade turnover in January–March 2026 exceeded the figure for the same period of the previous year by 4.6%, reaching $4.705 billion.

In March, trade turnover decreased by 13.1% compared to February and by 6.8% compared to March of the previous year. In the first month of spring, trade turnover amounted to $1.58 billion.

Exports in the first three months of the year exceeded the same period of the previous year by 4.5%, totaling $1.76 billion. In March, exports dropped by 19.9% compared to February and by 12.6% compared to March 2025. The value of exports in March stood at $564.6 million.

Imports in January–March exceeded the same period of 2025 by 4.6%, amounting to $2.94 billion. In March, imports decreased by 8.7% compared to February and by 3.2% compared to March of the previous year. The volume of imports in March was $1.02 billion.

The decline in foreign trade turnover is most likely due to factors stemming from military tensions in the Persian Gulf region since February 28, primarily disruptions in logistics.

The average exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the US dollar was 378.30 in January–March and 377.36 in March.