Category: News

The inaugural Armenia–United Kingdom Business Forum was held in Yerevan with the aim of creating new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

The topics under discussion covered a wide range, from capital and investment to artificial intelligence, education and culture. The forum brought together around 2,000 participants on one platform, including representatives of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the Central Bank, international financial and development institutions, business circles, the British diplomatic mission, leading companies, educational and scientific institutions, with the aim of turning bilateral cooperation into new practical ties and initiatives.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in his remarks that holding the forum was logical following the signing in May this year of the memorandum establishing a strategic partnership between Armenia and the United Kingdom.

“After establishing such a partnership, the primary question that arises for governments is the following: how to turn that political will, which is expressed through the adopted document or documents, into reality? And the most effective way to resolve this issue is to make the political content discussed between governments part of everyday life. And such forums serve precisely that purpose—to fill the space opened by governments with real life,” Pashinyan said.

PM Pashinyan referred to establishing a railway connection between the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea, implementing the North–South Road project, and, alongside the railway, opening roads in the same east–west direction.

“What I am describing is precisely what the Government of the Republic of Armenia has approved within the framework of the Crossroads of Peace project. Alongside all these communications, of course, possibilities for constructing oil and gas pipelines are already being considered and discussed, and we are also holding concrete discussions on electricity transmission lines. All this means that Armenia and the United Kingdom are becoming closer to each other in terms of transportation, and it is the right time to discuss what opportunities there are that can be utilized,” the Prime Minister said.

British Ambassador to Armenia Alexandra Cole said in her remarks that British expertise is already contributing to some of Armenia’s most ambitious projects.

“When Armenia and the United Kingdom agreed our strategic partnership agreement at the European Political Community in May, you helped set a much more ambitious direction for our economic relationship. Today is about turning that ambition into business, and we already have momentum. Armenia has ambitions; no one can doubt that. The United Kingdom has the relevant experience. The technological potential, capital and ideas of the two countries will help turn our ambitions and experience into real results. And it is not just about individual deals. Partnership is not built on paper; it is built by people. Therefore, we will all have a role to play in this,” Ambassador Cole said.

According to her, the British Council is strengthening ties in the areas of English-language teaching, higher education and employment, which is important for all citizens of Armenia.

“One of our leading programs contributes to the formation of networks of Armenian professionals with close ties to the United Kingdom, which is also of economic importance. Implementing this entire ambitious agenda requires financial support, so I am particularly pleased to welcome our colleagues from the UK Export Finance team here in Yerevan, as part of this forum. This is a significant opportunity to support credible projects and connect them with British goods, services and expertise,” Ambassador Cole said.

Alexander Shaghikyan, Chairman of the Board of the Oxford Alumni Business Club of Armenia, said in his remarks that the forum is built on a simple belief: there is more that Armenia and the United Kingdom can achieve together.

“The United Kingdom has extensive experience in finance, world-class universities and research potential, while Armenia stands out for its entrepreneurial and technological potential and its diaspora. Combining all of this can create real opportunities, from new investments and market access to the commercialization of research results. This is precisely the goal expressed by the forum’s title, ‘Building Bridges for Capital, Talent and Innovation,’” Shaghikyan said.

According to him, the Oxford Alumni Business Club of Armenia organized the forum to leverage international knowledge, experience and relationships for the benefit of Armenia.

The forum also brought together representatives of the public and private sectors, international institutions and professional communities, with the aim of combining various areas of bilateral relations into one practical agenda.

Hayk Karapetyan, Head of the Organizing Committee of the Armenia–United Kingdom Business Forum 2026, noted that there is still significant untapped potential in Armenia–United Kingdom economic relations.

“Our ambition is for this forum to become one of the platforms that will consistently identify this potential and shape new directions on the Armenian–British business agenda,” Karapetyan said.

At the center of the forum’s economic agenda were access to capital, attracting investment and opportunities to enter new markets. Participants in the discussions also included Martin Galstyan, Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia, Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan, and representatives of the EBRD, the World Bank, ICBC Standard Bank and other institutions.

Howard Davies, Chairman of Inigo Insurance Ltd and one of the leading figures in the British financial sector, addressed the prospects for Armenian–British financial and investment cooperation.

“Infrastructure projects are an obvious example: the UK’s export finance agency has agreed to provide funding to support infrastructure development in Armenia. The second area is the insurance world, where London remains the largest global insurance market. And there are signs of cooperation between Armenian companies and the Lloyd’s market,” Davies said.

According to him, investors want to see a commitment to ensuring financial stability, so financial stability, provided through a strong and effectively managed central bank, is perhaps the most important factor.

“I think you have exactly that situation at present. In the foreseeable future, your banking system will most likely be the strongest. However, this implies a banking system with international connections, because banks capable of raising capital in international markets are needed to support domestic development. Therefore, we are talking about banks, but banks that have strong foundations and perhaps are listed on the London Stock Exchange or possibly another European stock exchange, enabling them to raise capital to support growth in lending volumes,” Davies said.

Technological cooperation was another key area of the forum. Alex Connock, Senior Fellow in Management Practice at the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford, presented the impact of artificial intelligence on the media business and marketing. According to him, artificial intelligence should be used to achieve business objectives, conduct research, perform various tasks and carry out similar activities.

“In the case of a relatively small but highly technology-focused market like Armenia, a small team using AI can achieve the same results as thousands of people. And this, in my view, is a wonderful metaphor for Armenia’s activities itself. A country with a population of 2–3 million can achieve much greater efficiency by using artificial intelligence intelligently and play a more significant role in the global economy. I think this is really a perfect metaphor for everything we are doing today,” Connock said.

The AI & Deep Tech discussion focused on the commercialization of research, the growth of technology companies and opportunities to enter international markets, with the participation of Davit Tadevosyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence of the Republic of Armenia, as well as representatives of Armenian and international technology companies.

During the forum, particular attention was paid to practical mechanisms for investment and international financing in Armenia. UK Export Finance presented financing opportunities for Armenia, Enterprise Armenia presented investment proposals, while investment opportunities were presented within the framework of Yerevan’s urban development programs. Representatives of Armenian state institutions, the World Bank, the EBRD, UKEF and the private sector participated in discussions on infrastructure, trade and export finance.

The forum’s final discussion was dedicated to cultural heritage, educational ties and cultural diplomacy. Participants included Marios Papadopoulos, founder and music director of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, MBE; Thomas Harrison, a representative of the British Museum; Edward Gibbs, Chairman of Sotheby’s Middle East and India; Michael Erdman, Head of Asian and African Collections at the British Library; Davit Poghosyan, Director of the History Museum of Armenia; and other representatives of the field.

Rose Luckin, founder and CEO of Educate Ventures Research and Honorary Professor at University College London, in turn noted that artificial intelligence should be used intelligently and with a clear purpose.

“The education systems that achieve the best results are those that ensure their teachers are highly qualified and sufficiently informed about artificial intelligence to use it intelligently and carefully and to support learning. When introducing artificial intelligence, it is necessary to clearly define the desired objective and take a strategic approach to ensure that artificial intelligence serves precisely that objective. I think that for a country like Armenia, which has a very good education system, it is really important to build on that strong foundation and use the education system to develop the appropriate capabilities in people so that they can use these tools intelligently,” Luckin said.

The main program concluded with the presentation of the Armenian–British “Bridge Builder” Award, highlighting the importance of building and developing long-term ties between the two countries.

The forum continued with targeted B2B and B2G meetings between delegates from the United Kingdom and Armenian partners. The purpose of the meetings is to develop the connections formed during the forum and explore specific opportunities for business and institutional cooperation.

The Armenia–United Kingdom Business Forum 2026 was organized by the Oxford Alumni Business Club of Armenia (OABCA), in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Armenia, represented by the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Enterprise Armenia and the British-Armenian Chamber of Commerce. 

The Health Ministry’s operational working group is monitoring reports concerning pneumonic plague in Russia. As further information becomes available, the necessary measures will be introduced under established procedures, including enhanced checks and temperature screening for people arriving in Armenia.

Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan said this during a question-and-answer session with the government in the National Assembly, responding to a question from MP Arayik Harutyunyan.

Referring to concerning reports about the possible spread of pneumonic plague in Russia, Harutyunyan asked what steps the government was taking.

Avanesyan said that work had been organised from the moment the news first emerged, following procedures for reports and suspected cases of infectious diseases posing a public health threat.

“I must say that the operational working group is already actively monitoring what is being published and what information is already available,” the minister said.

She said the full range of tools needed to implement the necessary measures was ready. The ministry was also working with the World Health Organization and partners to obtain a comprehensive picture of the situation.

Avanesyan said pneumonic plague was a severe disease transmitted through respiratory droplets during close contact. She said the risk of death was high without timely treatment with appropriate antibiotics.

“We are very attentive and vigilant on this issue. We are carrying out all the work in a coordinated manner,” Avanesyan stressed.

The minister added that the operational working group was also monitoring Ebola outbreaks in some African countries. She emphasised the importance of implementing the necessary measures in this area as tourism and passenger transport expanded.

During her working visit to Georgia, Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan met Georgian Culture Minister Maia Bitadze.

According to the Armenian ministry, the meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister Alfred Kocharyan, Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Georgia Ashot Smbatyan, and Georgian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Giorgi Sharvashidze.

Andreasyan thanked her counterpart for the warm welcome and support in organising the Days of Armenian Culture in Georgia. The ministers emphasised the importance of further expanding cultural cooperation between Armenia and Georgia, as well as preserving and promoting cultural heritage.

Andreasyan also highlighted the opening of the conceptual retrospective exhibition “Yervand Kochar: A Multidimensional Genius” (Tiflis–Paris–Yerevan) at the Georgian National Museum’s Dimitri Shevardnadze National Gallery as part of the Days of Armenian Culture in Georgia.

Discussing the expansion of cooperation between museums, the Armenian minister stressed the importance of strengthening ties and promoting cooperation between the two countries’ national museums, proposing joint exhibitions.

The two sides also emphasised the importance of developing cooperation in contemporary art and cinema and implementing joint programmes. They reaffirmed their readiness to continue close cultural cooperation and pursue joint initiatives.

Accompanied by Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Ashot Smbatyan, Minister Zhanna Andreasyan and Deputy Minister Alfred Kocharyan visited the Khojivank Pantheon of Armenian Writers and Public Figures in Tbilisi. They paid tribute to the prominent Armenians buried there.

The three-day International Trade and Investment Forum began with an official opening ceremony in the foyer of Yerevan City Hall.

A total of 250 delegates from 38 countries have arrived in Armenia to take part in the forum and establish direct business ties with international distributors, importers, retail chains and buyers, as well as Armenian producers of food, fresh fruit, vegetables and beverages.

In his remarks, Yerevan Deputy Mayor Levon Hovhannisyan said the presence of so many participants demonstrated Armenia’s increasingly active engagement with the international business community and the growing presence of Armenian products in new markets.

“This forum is an important platform for showcasing Armenian products and our country’s export potential, and for bringing together people’s ideas and business opportunities. It is particularly important that this year’s forum focuses on food and beverages, as Armenia can offer the world high-value, distinctive and competitive products. The forthcoming meetings between international buyers, importers and Armenian companies will mark the beginning of both one-off business contacts and long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships,” Hovhannisyan said.

The deputy mayor said Armenia’s capital was ready to serve as a platform for this cooperation. He noted that Yerevan would celebrate its 2,808th anniversary in two days, demonstrating that the capital, with its centuries-long history, continued to live, develop and open itself to the world. He said it was symbolic that such a large and broadly representative forum was taking place in Yerevan at this time.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Vahan Kostanyan said this year’s forum had a particularly important focus: identifying new foreign markets for Armenia and Armenian products.

“Today, diversifying export markets and identifying new markets is one of the Armenian government’s foremost priorities. Work in this direction is multifaceted and varied. First, I would highlight the programmes implemented over the past few years by the government, particularly our colleagues at the Ministry of Economy, to improve Armenia’s quality infrastructure. It is important to us that Armenian products are associated with quality. The second area is providing a political framework that enables our producers to identify potential new markets. Together with the Investment Council of Armenia and other partners, we have worked to establish links between our businesses and major international chains,” Kostanyan said.

According to the deputy minister, the third important area comprises government support programmes designed to ensure that Armenian producers’ first steps proceed as smoothly as possible.

Alexandra Cole, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Armenia, said this was the best time to connect Armenian producers with international buyers.

“Many international partners are visiting Armenia, recognising the true value of the opportunities available. The United Kingdom is proud to support Armenia’s efforts to build a competitive, open and diversified economy, where the opportunities are truly exciting and stimulating. Our cooperation with the Investment Council enables us to improve the business environment and public–private dialogue, and support reforms that allow companies to invest, innovate and enter new markets,” Cole said.

The diplomat said export diversification was crucial to Armenia’s long-term economic stability, making the focus on this issue particularly valuable.

“In the United Kingdom, we recently agreed to add several new product categories to the list of goods from Armenia eligible for duty-free imports. Therefore, I think that when meeting producers in the coming days, it is worth bearing in mind that many of these products, particularly fresh fruit, certain types of canned fruit, wine, herbs and spices, will be imported duty-free,” the ambassador said.

Head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s office in Armenia, Rémon Zakaria, said the bank also supported the diversification of Armenia’s economy.

“Through our cooperation with the European Union, we have instruments that we deploy through commercial banks to support local businesses, both through advice and investment. All of this is aimed at diversifying activities, improving the environment and ultimately ensuring standards that meet the requirements of other markets. I greatly appreciate this initiative and must say that Armenian products are truly of high quality,” Zakaria said.

Speaking to journalists, Hovsep Patvakanyan, Head of the Investment Council of Armenia, said the forum aimed to enable local producers to negotiate with international partners and conclude mutually beneficial deals.

“In other words, we want to hold discussions and take concrete steps towards cooperation. Armenian products will be presented during the forum, and there will be visits to various factories to identify areas for further cooperation. Participants include major owners of retail chains in the Persian Gulf, European countries and Latin America who can help Armenian producers diversify their exports. They want to learn more and familiarise themselves with the certification process so that they can import large quantities of products in the future,” Patvakanyan said.

He said preliminary agreements were already in place and that they would monitor the results over the next six months.

The opening ceremony was followed by a presentation of the TradeArmenia.org platform and two panel discussions dedicated to access to the EU market and Armenia’s trade and export opportunities.

The first discussion featured Armenian Deputy Minister of Economy Tigran Gasparyan, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Armenia Johann Hesse, Estonian Ambassador to Armenia Marge Mardisalu-Kahar, and International Trade Centre representative Pierre Bonthonneau.

The second discussion brought together representatives of Sweden’s National Board of Trade, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and business communities from Greece and the United Arab Emirates.

FIFA has published its updated national team rankings.

Armenia’s national team is ranked 108th after four rounds of the Nations League, dropping one place compared with the previous rankings.

Reigning world champions Spain top the list, followed by Argentina in second place and France in third.