22 Jul
NEWSARM

Meeting-discussion for establishment of long-term cooperation

On July 19 and 21, within the framework of “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia” (MAVETA) project, a meeting-discussion was organized with the representatives of non-governmental organizations active in Syunik and Lori regions of RA, the representatives of Goris, Sisian, Stepanavan, Tashir territorial centers of the unified social service and the mentioned communities’ authorities.

The main purpose of the meeting-discussion was to present the “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia” (MAVETA) project, to identify the target beneficiaries of the projects implemented by the invited structures and the challenges acquired while working with that target, as well as to discuss the possible cooperation. The participants of the meeting welcomed the implementation of the project, made suggestions and expressed their interest in cooperation and joint actions.

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).

14 Jul
Uncategorized

Tourism Sector Consultative Group Workshop

On 13-14 July 2023, a Tourism Sector Consultative Group Workshop was organized within the framework of the newly launched “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” project of RECONOMY. The project focuses on enhancing the digital transformation of the Tourism, Agriculture, and Manufacturing sectors in the Eastern Partnership countries.

The Sectoral Consultative Group Workshop was aimed at identifying common problems and digital transformation opportunities in EaP countries in the Tourism sector, as well as at mapping main stakeholders to be engaged in the project interventions. Representatives of key sectoral institutions from Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova were invited to participate in the workshop.

RECONOMY is a regional inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in partnership with Strategic Development Agency NGO and others in the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkan regions.

30 Jun
NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG

Agriculture Sector Consultative Group Workshop was organized within the framework of the “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” project

On 28-29 June 2023, an Agriculture Sector Consultative Group Workshop was organized within the framework of the newly launched “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” project of RECONOMY. The project focuses on enhancing the digital transformation of the Tourism, Agriculture, and Manufacturing sectors in the Eastern Partnership countries.

The Consultative Group Workshop was aimed at identifying common sectoral problems and digital transformation opportunities in EaP countries, as well as at mapping main stakeholders to be engaged in the project interventions. Representatives of key sectoral institutions from Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova were invited to participate in the workshop.

RECONOMY is a regional inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in partnership with Strategic Development Agency NGO and others in the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkan regions.

22 Jun
NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM

Participation in the “Mimino” Armenian-Georgian cultural-culinary festival

On June 17, the “Mimino” Armenian-Georgian cultural-culinary festival was held in Dilijan, which was organized by the “Development and Preservation of Armenian Culinary Traditions”  NGO together with the “Armenian Tourism Federation” with the financial support of the Tourism Committee of the RA Ministry of Economy.

The main goal of the festival was to promote the cooperation between tour operators of the two countries, to activate and promote tourist visits between the two neighbouring countries, to strengthen cultural dialogue and friendship between peoples, as well as to promote the development of gastro-tourism.

Beneficiaries of the “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) also attended the festival: “Berkri” gastro yard showcasing the Tavush cuisine and wines, “Haghartsin Kum-Kum” teas, presenting concentrated phytoteas, “Turm” herbal teas, presenting natural tea herbs collected from the Lori mountains, “Arevi” hotel, introducing its adventure and eco tours, as well as the hotel being built with the support of the Project in the Gosh settlement.

The project provided the beneficiaries with the opportunity to make their products and services visible and recognizable to thousands of tourists, Armenian and Georgian tour operators, to expand their business contacts, and to meet new people who will help them grow their businesses.

Participation of project beneficiaries in such regional initiatives is congruent with the project’s long-term goals of ensuring rural population living conditions through conservation, sustainable use of natural resources, adaptation, and mitigation of climate change.

 

The incomes of the rural population will be diversified by reducing the heavy dependence on agriculture and animal husbandry, so that the farms can also generate income from tourism, hospitality and related tourism supply chains.

The project “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” is implemented by the Armenian branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Armenia) in cooperation with the   “Strategic Development Agency” NGO (SDA), and is financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

12 Jun
Uncategorized

The 6th Sheep Shearing Festival took place

On June 10, the 6th “Sheep Shearing” festival took place in Khot settlement of Syunik region. The festival was organized by the joint efforts of “The Ranch” LLC and “Strategic Development Agency” NGO, with the support of the RA Tourism Committee.

The festival has been held in Armenia since 2014. The festival aims to raise awareness about local products, traditions and culture in the Syunik region of Armenia, as well as to contribute to the development of tourism in the region, the activation of cultural life and to provide an opportunity for people involved in tourism and hospitality to generate additional income.

The festival’s honorary guests were RA Minister of Economy Mr. Vahan Kerobyan and Mr. Werner Thut, Deputy Regional Director of Swiss Cooperation in the South Caucasus and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in Armenia.

RA Minister of Economy, Mr. Vahan Kerobyan, gave a welcome speech at the festival, who presented the statistics on the development of tourism in Armenia. “I am very happy that such events are organized and we are able to strengthen and activate our communities, to show the importance of local businesses in communities,”- the Minister said.

Mr. Thut began his welcoming speech with a Swiss folk song which best explains the connection and longing to homeland of a country fellow. “With this beautiful song, I would like to give you a warm welcome on behalf of the Embassy of Switzerland and the Swiss Development Cooperation”.

In his welcoming speech, Mr. Thut introduced the history of the song, the annual Schafscheid event taking place in Guggisberg when sheep that have been grazing the Alps over the summer are brought back to their owners in autumn. “The mountain regions of Swiss Guggisberg and Syunik have much in common. This is also one of the reasons why the Swiss Development Cooperation has been supporting the development of livestock farming in Syunik since 2006. Part of this success story is the establishment of the Syunik animal market in Khot settlement of Tatev Community of Syunik Region, now called “The Ranch», where the festival is taking place today.”- said Mr. Werner Thut, Deputy Regional Director of Swiss Cooperation in the South Caucasus and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in Armenia.

The guests of the festival were also welcomed by Ms. Anna Margaryan, the representative of the RA Tourism Committee, and Mr. Samvel Lalayan, the Head of Tatev community of Syunik Marz of Armenia. A. Margaryan, the public relations officer of the Tourism Committee, emphasized in her speech the importance of the festival culture in attracting new tourist flows.

During the festival, the collection of Armenian national costumes (taraz) and accessories were presented to the public by “Teryan” cultural center NGO.

During the event, visitors had the opportunity to listen the concert by “Lav Eli” band, get acquainted with the wool processing “from wool to carpet”, buy handicraft souvenirs, taste and buy the agricultural products and drinks presented in the booths.

The winner of “Sheep shearing-2023” contest is Levon Manvelyan, from Chambarak community, Gegharkunik marz of Armenia.

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