15 Oct
Uncategorized

New Cooperation within RECONOMY’s “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” Project

A partnership agreement has been signed between the Strategic Development Agency NGO and the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE) as part of RECONOMY’s Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” project.

The project aims to identify the demand for digital solutions among small and medium enterprises in the tourism, agriculture and light industry sectors and support IT organizations operating in these sectors in providing innovative digital services and solutions based on demand. The project will contribute to the digital transformation of SMEs in the above sectors, ensuring the efficiency of their activities and the creation of new jobs.

In his remarks, Mkrtich Ayvazyan, chairman of the “Strategic Development Agency,” emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting Armenian production and local businesses while ensuring they remain competitive with international partners in the field of innovation.

Sargis Karapetyan, executive director of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises affirmed that promoting public-private partnerships through innovation is one of the union’s strategic goals, and they will provide essential services as part of this collaboration.

Following this, Mher Sahakyan, head of the “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” project, and UATE representatives discussed the upcoming tasks, schedule, and action plan.

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.

14 Oct
Uncategorized

Cheese Festival in Tashir

Within the “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia” (MAVETA) project, Tashir Municipality organized a Cheese Festival with the support of the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO on October 10. The festival coincided with the celebration of Tashir city’s 180th anniversary.

The festival aimed to promote cheese-making as a vital profession that offers employment opportunities, raise public awareness about the activities of cheese and dairy product producers involved in the MAVETA project, connect students from Stepanavan State Agricultural College with potential employers and job openings, and encourage young people to consider careers in milk and dairy technology.

Twelve local cheese producers, along with various community organizations, showcased their products at individual booths.

Tashir residents and guests gathered in the city square were welcomed by Gor Asryan, the deputy governor of Lori, Edgar Arshakyan, the head of the Tashir community, Bishop Hakobyan, the leader of the Gugarats diocese, and other officials.

During the event, a historical overview was presented, and in honor of Tashir City Day, certificates of appreciation were awarded to individuals who contributed to the city’s development on behalf of the governor and the community head.

Deputy Governor Gor Asryan presented a letter of thanks to Mkrtich Ayvazyan, chairman of the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO for his contributions to social and economic activities and cooperation in Lori Marz.

Festival attendees explored the booths, sampled and purchased both traditional and innovative local cheeses, and watched live demonstrations of cheese-making techniques.

The event featured exhibitions of paintings, handicrafts, and 3D modeling, alongside a vibrant concert program. Performers included singers Sevak Amroyan and Sona, as well as the dance group from the Tashir Culture House and the “Sasun” dance ensemble, offering an ethnographic song-and-dance experience.

Additionally, the Automobile Federation of Armenia showcased its collection of retro cars at the festive occasion.

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).

08 Oct
NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG

New Collaboration Between LILA and RECONOMY Projects

On October 4, a joint working discussion was held as part of the “Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia” (LILA) and RECONOMY’s “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” projects, with the participation of the representatives of the destination management organizations (DMOs), beneficiaries of the LILA project.

The primary objective of the meeting was to plan activities that would identify and engage families in the target settlements of the LILA project on the Like Local digital platform.

Alla Hovhannisyan, an expert on the “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” project, shared insights on the project’s areas of intervention, including tourism, and discussed their digitization experiences in the target regions of the RECONOMY project in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

Alla Ghazaryan, coordinator of the LILA project, highlighted the project’s goal to develop sustainable and inclusive tourism in the regions of Lori, Vayots Dzor, Tavush, and Syunik. She emphasized the importance of offering authentic tourist experiences to visitors in Armenia and directing tourist flows to remote settlements by involving rural families in this initiative.

Gevorg Babayan, founder of the Like Local digital platform, provided an overview of the platform’s activities and shared international experiences. He expressed a commitment to including families living unique lifestyles in the target communities of the LILA project, enabling them to host tourists if they meet the criteria for joining the platform.

In this context, Karina Harutyan, project officer for “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness,” underscored the critical role of destination management organizations in identifying these families and accurately collecting and digitizing their information.

During the meeting, memorandums of cooperation were signed between the destination management organizations and the Like Local digital platform.

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.

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.

02 Oct
NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM

New private sector partners joined the MAVETA project

On October 1, at the initiated of the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO, a meeting was held in Yerevan as part of the “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia” (MAVETA) project. The meeting brought together representatives from the new partner private sector and directors of educational institutions.

Monique Frey, Senior VET Advisor at HEKS/EPER, and Johannes Brunner, Professor at the Bern School of Applied Sciences, were also present at the meeting.

In his welcoming remarks, Mkrtich Ayvazyan, chairman of the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO, highlighted that the organization will continue to support the introduction of agricultural professions through a dual educational system, the modernization of training, and the strengthening of the connection between employers and colleges. These efforts aim to train competitive specialists and ensure their employment.

Monique Frey and Johannes Brunner emphasized in their speeches their commitment to continuing the international best practices in the field, sharing Swiss experiences of dual educational system in Armenia, and contributing to the efforts to modernize education and training in agriculture.

Lilit Hovhannisyan, MAVETA project manager, expressed satisfaction that enrollment in the professions introduced by the project for the 2024-2025 academic year has shown significant growth, highlighting the active involvement of new private sector partners in the implementation of dual education.

Directors from partner colleges, including Ara Chobanyan of Stepanavan State Agricultural College, Anna Avalyan of Berd Multipurpose State College, Anna Torozyan (acting director) of Goris State Agricultural College, and Mary Yolyan, head of the educational program at the ANAU Sisian branch, acknowledged the support of the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO in capacity development, the introduction of agricultural professions with a dual educational system, the promotion of employer-college cooperation, as well as teacher training and the technical re-equipping of colleges.

During the meeting, memorandums of understanding were signed between the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO and 28 new private sector partners who joined the MAVETA project recently.

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).

27 Sep
NEWSENG

A partnership agreement within the “Digitizing sectors for competitiveness” project

On September 26, a partnership agreement was signed between the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO and the Armenian Tourism Federation within the RECONOMY’s “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” project.

In his speech, Mekhak Apresyan, chairman of the Armenian Tourism Federation, emphasized the long-term cooperation with the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO and the importance of the support shown to the federation.

Mkrtich Ayvazyan, chairman of the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO, assured that the organization considers the development of tourism in Armenia as one of the strategic directions and will support the efforts aimed at digitization of the sector.

Then, Mher Sahakyan, “Digitizing Sectors for Competitiveness” project manager and Mekhak Apresyan, chairman of the Armenian Tourism Federation discussed the upcoming tasks and action plan.

The project aims at developing the capacity of the Armenian Tourism Federation to provide non formal education to target groups, particularly women, youth and vulnerable groups, to enhance their competencies on digital products and services in the field of tourism.

As a project outcome, it is expected to have a workforce endowed with digital innovative knowledge in the tourism sector, expanding their employability and income earning opportunities.

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.

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