21 Apr
Uncategorized

RECONOMY Fab Lab Opening Ceremony at the Gyumri Branch of the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia

On April 18, the official opening ceremony of the Fab Lab digital manufacturing laboratory was held at the Gyumri branch of the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia—a partner of RECONOMY’s “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” project.

This initiative was launched as part of the AGBU Armenia “Katapult” Creative Accelerator Program, supported by the European Union in Armenia. The project was made possible through the collaboration of the “Fab Lab Armenia” Educational Foundation, the Gyumri branch of the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia, and the “Strategic Development Agency” (SDA) NGO.

The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including Gevorg Mantashyan, First Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, and Daniel Danielyan, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia. Representatives from the EU Delegation to Armenia, AGBU Armenia, Fab Lab Armenia, and “Strategic Development Agency” NGO were also present and delivered opening remarks.

In his speech, Mher Sahakyan, Project Manager of RECONOMY’s “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness”, emphasized that the Fab Lab is more than just a digital innovation hub. It serves as a vital tool for enhancing the local innovation ecosystem, expanding employment opportunities, and promoting economic development and revitalization in the Shirak region and beyond.

As part of the RECONOMY’s “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” project, the Strategic Development Agency NGO is partnering with Fab Lab Gyumri to expand its educational and production capabilities. The SDA supports the development and institutionalization of Fab Lab’s business model, aimed at empowering local specialists and entrepreneurs, stimulating economic growth, and generating new employment opportunities.

The objective of the Fab Lab platform is to bridge the digital and physical realms, enabling the reinvention and dissemination of digital manufacturing technologies. With its opening, the Gyumri Fab Lab joins both the Armenian Fab Lab network and a global community of over 3,000 digital fabrication labs.

RECONOMY is an inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by Helvetas in partnership with the Strategic Development Agency NGO and others in the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkan countries.

18 Apr
NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM

MAVETA visit to schools in Goris community, Syunik region, for professional orientation

Within the framework of the “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia (MAVETA) project, vocational orientation visits were organized in April to Akner Secondary School and Y. Bakhshyan Primary School No. 3 in the Goris community.

The visits were carried out in collaboration with the project partner, Goris State Agricultural College.

MAVETA Project Manager Lilit Hovhannisyan and VET Consultant Lilit Beglaryan presented the goals of the project, the dual training system, as well as new agricultural professions that are being introduced at the college to the students.

The college’s career guidance officer, Jasmen Arustamyan, dual education coordinator Hasmik Khachunts, and quality assurance officer Raisa Petrosyan presented the college’s professional directions and their features, also answering questions from about 100 pupils present, who were interested in the training conditions, the duration of the specialties, and future job opportunities in the region.

The MAVETA project is funded by a broad coalition of international and local organizations led by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), including the Austrian Development Agency, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Government of Armenia, the Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) NGO, Izmirlian Foundation, the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO and Vanand Agro CJSC.

The project’s implementing partners are the GIZ and HEKS/EPER with the involvement of SDA and the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (HAFL).

15 Apr
Uncategorized

IADAAM Land Consolidation Discussion: Building a Shared Vision for Smarter Land Use

A collaborative roundtable brought together key stakeholders to discuss the future of land consolidation under the IADAAM project. The discussion unfolded as a dynamic and insightful exchange, bringing together the expertise of IADAAM Fund experts Samvel Bareyan and Gayane Hovsepyan, legal expert Vladimir Babayan, AEST advisers Aram Petrosyan and Aram Zakaryan, and land consolidation experts Niels Otto Haldrup and Stepan Davtyan.

This collaborative session aimed to align perspectives on how to structure and implement land consolidation efforts within the IADAAM framework. Key discussion points included:

  • Legal mechanisms and safeguards to ensure a transparent and fair process;
  • Strategic consolidation models suited to Armenia’s rural landscape;
  • Technical and institutional readiness for implementation;
  • Cooperation between stakeholders to streamline the process and ensure long-term success.

The discussion underscored the importance of tailored, well-regulated land consolidation as a driver of agricultural productivity and rural transformation.

Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir marzes (IADAAM) project, financed through the European Union (EU) with implementation by the French Development Agency (AFD) is an integrated initiative aimed at transforming irrigated agriculture in Armenia.

Within IADAAM project a technical assistance component is implemented jointly by Agriconsulting Europe S.A, Avenue Consulting Group, Strategic Development Agency NGO and 3R Strategy LLC consortium and aims to provide institutional support to the Ministry of Economy (MoE) in the formulation of agricultural policies and reforms in priority areas, provide technical support to the MoE in the implementing project activities, ensure communication and reporting for the IADAAM project.

11 Apr
NEWSARM, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG

#MAVETAambassadors Social Media Campaign Concluded in Yerevan

Within the framework of the “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia” (MAVETA) project, the final event of the #MAVETAambassadors social media campaign took place in Yerevan on April 10.

Ambassadors of the project—students, and teachers from partner colleges received training on how to effectively present agricultural professions on social media and engage in microblogging on agriculture-related topics.

As part of the day’s agenda, participants visited the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, where they were welcomed by Sisak Gabrielyan, Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth. During the meeting, students and teachers had the opportunity to discuss issues related to education and community development.

In the afternoon, the group met with media expert and blogger Samvel Martirosyan for an engaging session.

The event concluded with the awarding of certificates to the MAVETA ambassadors.

The MAVETA project is funded by a broad coalition of international and local organizations led by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), including the Austrian Development Agency, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Government of Armenia, the HEKS/EPER NGO, Izmirlian Foundation, the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO and Vanand Agro CJSC.

 The project’s implementing partners are the GIZ and HEKS/EPER with the involvement of SDA and the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (HAFL).

 

10 Apr
Uncategorized

Strengthening Tourism Development: RECONOMY x LILA Meet with RA Tourism Committee

On April 9, 2025, within the frameworks of the “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” (LILA) and RECONOMY’s Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” projects, a meeting was held between the Chair of the Tourism Committee of RA, Lusine Gevorgyan, representatives of the Committee and the afore-mentioned project managers.

The primary objective of the meeting was to discuss the development prospects of regional tourism, with a focus on assessing tourism potential, building local capacities, designing tourism products, and strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors.

Special emphasis was placed on the development of skills and the certification needs of guides and tour leaders, particularly those involved in the adventure tourism sector.

LILA and RECONOMY project managers, together with the Chair and representatives of the Tourism Committee, also explored pathways for enhancing the tourism potential of recreation facilities managed by local businesses—such as hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants—through green, sustainable, and environmentally responsible tourism practices, especially in the regions of Armenia.

A mutual agreement was reached between RECONOMY and LILA projects and the Tourism Committee to expand and deepen their cooperation, with the aim of supporting the development of professional capacities in the tourism sector and ensuring more effective and sustainable results in this process.

RECONOMY is an inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by Helvetas in partnership with the Strategic Development Agency NGO and others in the Eastern Partnership and Western Balkan countries.

LILA project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and implemented by the WWF Armenian Office (WWF-Armenia) in partnership with the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO. 

«‹2829303132›»