Category: News

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told business leaders on Monday that Armenia is entering a new phase of economic development, crediting the newly established peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“We expect major developments in the near future, primarily related to the launch of the TRIPP project, which is significant in that it will ultimately allow the Republic of Armenia to fully emerge from its state of blockade. In fact, Armenia has already overcome the blockade to some extent, as you know that rail freight transportation to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory is possible and is being carried out. I would also like to note that exports can be conducted by rail as well, of course via Georgia, until we open the railway with Azerbaijan, primarily within the framework of the TRIPP project. This is very important, and the political agreement is that this railway will never be closed. In other words, it will be a reliable route for both imports and exports,” the Prime Minister said at a meeting with executives of top taxpayer companies.

The Prime Minister noted that since 2018, when he took office, according to real estimates, Armenia’s gross domestic product has grown by 53%, and that the country’s economy has reached a point where business-to-business, state-to-business, state-to-employee, and employee-to-employer relations must now develop in a new way. In this regard, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the meeting for discussing such issues and hearing the views of business representatives.

“Once again, I want to thank all of you for the changes that have taken place in our country, because there are sectors and companies whose role in the Republic of Armenia is difficult to overestimate. It is very important that these companies also bring a new mentality, new thinking, and a new culture to Armenia, which is actually the most important capital, opening new areas and opportunities for entering new fields of activity. I believe that today the Republic of Armenia has horizons before it that it has never had in its entire history. Armenia has never experienced such an unprecedented period of opportunities. We need to be able to continuously and consistently make use of this situation. It is clear that the government cannot do this without key players in the economy and the real sector. And beyond simply expressing gratitude today, I also want to draw your attention to this situation—this is essentially my main message,” said Nikol Pashinyan.

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is a connectivity project in Armenia, envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, create long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity. An Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has congratulated Tisza Party President Péter Magyar on his victory in the Hungarian parliamentary elections.

“Extend my cordial congratulations to Péter Magyar & the Hungarian people on the occasion of the victory in the Hungarian elections. These democratic elections reflect the will of the Hungarian people & the future vision of the country,” Pashinyan said on X.

With 98% of votes counted, Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party secured 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament with 53.6% of the vote, while incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz won just 55 seats with 37.8% of the vote in an election that saw nearly 80% turnout. Orbán has conceded defeat after 16 years in power.

Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan held a meeting on Monday in Yerevan with Audra Plepytė, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

According to a readout from the parliament’s press service, Rubinyan praised Armenia–Lithuania cooperation, including within the framework of interparliamentary relations.

The sides also discussed regional issues and the security situation. In this context, Rubinyan spoke about Armenia’s normalization process with Azerbaijan and Türkiye.

They also discussed prospects for deepening Armenia–EU relations.

Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan, together with Football Federation of Armenia President Armen Melikbekyan, has inspected the ongoing construction of the Juventus Academy Armenia in Yerevan, near the Hrazdan Stadium.

At the construction site, the minister and the president of the Football Federation of Armenia were presented with the football academy’s designs, the progress of construction, and details of the ongoing work.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Minister Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized the importance of establishing the academy for the development of Armenian football, the sports education of young athletes, and the strengthening of international cooperation. In her words, a major hub of modern sports infrastructure is being formed in this area adjacent to Tsitsernakaberd Highway; alongside the Football Academy, the gymnastics sports school named after Albert Azaryan is also being built.

The Juventus Academy in Armenia will consist of three training bases designed for 2,000 trainees. Two of them will be located in Yerevan’s Avan district and near the Hrazdan Stadium, while the third will be in the Nor Hachn community of Kotayk Province. The training complex will also include a hotel residence for European coaches and for children studying at the academy.

Each year, the academy’s best students will travel to Turin to the main Juventus Academy, where they will participate in training sessions and friendly matches.

Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan held a meeting on Monday with Audra Plepytė, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

According to a readout from Grigoryan’s office, the Secretary welcomed Plepytė’s visit to Armenia and stressed the continuous and growing dynamics of political dialogue in Armenia–Lithuania relations.

Secretary Grigoryan and Vice Minister Plepytė also exchanged views on the Armenia–EU cooperation agenda, the visa liberalization process, regional developments, and other matters of mutual interest.

The novel Death and the Gardener by Georgi Gospodinov has won the Spanish Critics Award for Best Foreign Book, the Bulgarian publisher Janet 45 announced.

“We are happy to share that Death and the Gardener by Georgi Gospodinov has won the Spanish Critics Award for Best Foreign Book. This is the 70th edition of one of Spain’s most important literary awards. It is the only prize granted to works in all four official languages of Spain by a jury of 21 independent literary critics,” the publisher said in a statement. 

This is the first time a Bulgarian book receives this distinction.

This latest major recognition for Gospodinov comes just a month after Death and the Gardener (translated by Maria Vutova) won the Grand Prize for Best Fiction Book 2025 awarded by the Spanish Confederation of Booksellers Guilds and Associations.

The Spanish publisher Impedimenta wrote on its website: “Today we celebrate news that fills us with joy: Georgi Gospodinov has been awarded the 2025 Critics Prize for Death and the Gardener. This distinction recognizes one of the most unique, insightful, and indispensable writers of our time. His literature – delicate and deeply humane – explores memory, the passage of time, and the fragility of existence. In his pages, the intimate becomes universal, nostalgia takes on new forms, and everyday life reveals unexpected depth.”

A ninth edition of the novel in Spain is expected within days. Since its release less than a year ago, Death and the Gardener has remained among the most sought-after books, according to Janet 45.

(This information is published according to an agreement between Armenpress and BTA). 

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 13 April, USD exchange rate down by 0.54 drams to 375.19 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.34 drams to 438.75 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0697 drams to 4.9341 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.72 drams to 504.07 drams.

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

Gold price up by 52 drams to 57584 drams. 

Minister of Finance of the Republic of Armenia Vahe Hovhannisyan received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to Armenia Mansour Abdulla Al Sulaitin, the ministry said in a readout.

During the meeting, the parties reaffirmed the importance of strengthening friendly and mutually beneficial relations between Armenia and Qatar, which is among the priorities defined in the program of the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

The sides discussed prospects for expanding bilateral economic cooperation. In this context, they emphasized the Agreement between the Government of Armenia and the Government of Qatar on the Avoidance of Double Taxation, which creates favorable conditions for fostering and expanding business ties between the two countries.

According to the ministry, the two countries plan to deepen cooperation in the investment sector, as well as ensure the exchange of knowledge and experience in the areas of energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and digital transformation.

The regular session of the Management Board of North-South Road Corridor, M-6 Vanadzor-Alaverdi-Georgian Border Interstate Road Rehabilitation and Improvement Project, Urban Sustainable Development Investment and Northern Corridor Modernization programs was held under the chairmanship of Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan, the press service of the Government said in a statement.

During the meeting, participants discussed issues related to the construction of the 7-kilometer Kajaran tunnel and the reconstruction of an approximately 4-kilometer road section leading to the tunnel. The results of the tender were presented to the Management Board and approved.

The session also addressed the results of the evaluation of technical proposals submitted within the framework of the international tender for the procurement of technical supervision services for the Kajaran tunnel construction project.

The Road Department Fund was instructed to proceed to the next stage of the tender process, including the opening of financial proposals.

At the end of the session, Deputy Prime Minister Khachatryan made several observations regarding the discussed issues and issued relevant instructions.

Armenia’s success in the era of artificial intelligence depends on the development of three key resources, Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan said.

Hayrapetyan made the remarks while participating in the TEDx forum titled “Vision of the Future,” where he addressed state policy in the field of artificial intelligence and Armenia’s positioning on the global technological map, the ministry said.

He noted that the global economy is entering a new stage driven by artificial intelligence-based systems, where small countries can gain a strategic advantage if they set the right priorities and capitalize on current momentum.

In this context, the minister identified three key resources essential for small states: energy, high-performance computing capabilities, and human capital.

Hayrapetyan emphasized that Armenia’s success in the AI era depends on the simultaneous and consistent development of these resources. With the right strategy, he said, Armenia could strengthen its position in the global technological landscape and become a competitive player in the emerging economic reality.