The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan.
The 21st meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Russia and Armenia was co-chaired by Alexei Overchuk
Alexei Overchuk and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan held the 21st meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Russia and Armenia
Alexei Overchuk and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan at a commemorative stamp cancellation ceremony dedicated to the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia
Alexei Overchuk and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan signing the final protocol of the 21st meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Russia and Armenia
The 21st meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Russia and Armenia was co-chaired by Alexei Overchuk
Moscow hosted the 21st meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan.
The sides summed up the results of bilateral cooperation in trade, the economy, energy, industry, transport, agriculture, finance, healthcare, culture, science, interregional cooperation, education and tourism.
In 2022 the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 25th anniversary of the fundamental Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. The two countries have implemented an extensive programme, including the exchange of official visits and the organisation of joint business forums, interregional and youth forums, and cross-cultural days. Intensive and trust-based dialogue at the highest level sets the pace for the dynamic development of allied cooperation between the countries. “On April 19, 2022, during the first official visit of Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan to Russia, the leaders of our countries adopted a Joint Statement, which formalises the privileged nature and strategic orientation of the bilateral alliance, as well as lays the groundwork for signing an extensive package of bilateral documents,” Alexei Overchuk said.
Signing of the Intergovernmental Programme of Long-Term Economic Cooperation between Russia and Armenia until 2025, opening of the Strategic Development Centre in Armenia, creation of the business council and holding of a number of events in healthcare, education, science and culture are among the most significant events in Russian-Armenian relations.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that in accordance with the tasks set by the leaders of Russia and Armenia, comprehensive steps are being taken to overcome the consequences of negative trends in the global economy for trade and economic relations and investment cooperation.
“As before, Russia remains Armenia’s leading trade partner,” Alexei Overchuk said. “Our trade figures testify to this.”
We are developing our investment cooperation. Accumulated Russian investments account for almost 40 percent ($2 billion) of the total foreign investments in the economy of the Republic of Armenia. More than 40 major Russian companies are operating in Armenia.
In 2022, with the participation of the Russian Export Centre, Russian regions carried out 24 regional business missions involving business circles in Armenia. On 19-20 September 2022, within the framework of the 9th Russian-Armenian Interregional Forum, Russian economic operators held business missions organised by Russian companies, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade with the participation of more than 30 major companies.
The Russian-Armenian Business Council and the bilateral working group on economic and investment cooperation and interaction under the Russian-Armenian working group on industry were active during the meeting. "We attach great importance to the formation of the Russian-Armenian Business Council as a mechanism for permanent business dialogue between business communities of the two countries, and we count on its active work and initiative," he said.
Since April 2022, JSC SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) Corporation together with the National Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the Republic of Armenia have been cooperating in the integration of Russian small and medium enterprises into the supply chains of Armenian companies through the services of the federal digital platform "SME.RF". The "Production Cooperation and Sales" service was launched on the SME.RF digital platform.
The parties are working on signing a memorandum and a roadmap to develop international cooperation.
"In the field of industry, a lot of work has also been done during the intersessional period," said the Deputy Prime Minister. – Industrial dialogue is developing in many sectors: metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, the automotive industry, agricultural engineering, and digital technologies. Russian products are in demand in Armenia, where Russian car manufacturing and agricultural machinery producer brands are widely known. All this is in demand in the Republic of Armenia.”
The implementation of the earlier agreements was continued as regards transport. Comfortable conditions are being created for transporting passengers in the Republic of Armenia under the concessional agreement regulating the functioning of the South Caucasus Railway.
“We note the positive dynamics of road transport. By tradition, special attention is paid to the Upper Lars international checkpoint. So, we attach particular importance to its reconstruction and expect this work to be completed in 2023,” noted Deputy Prime Minister Mr Overchuk. “The checkpoint’s capacity has been increased from 200 to 350 Armenian cars per day and this is a very good figure,” he added.
Passenger bus services have been restored since January 2022. Six regular routes between the countries have been opened.
Cooperation in financial literacy is making headway. “In 2017, the Russian Federation adopted a strategy for enhancing financial literacy in 2017-2023,” Mr Overchuk noted. “Taking into account the results of implementing this strategy, we are now working on drafting and signing a memorandum between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia on cooperation and exchange of experience in upgrading the financial literacy of the population,” he said.
The participants noted one more promising area of cooperation – ICT. It includes implementation of joint projects on digitising the economy.
The sides are developing cooperation in healthcare, in part, at annual Russian-Armenian forums on healthcare. They are drafting an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in healthcare, medical education and research.
The development of bilateral cooperation in tourism is also on the agenda. “It is necessary to devote more attention to the development of outbound tourism, cooperation in tourism and interaction between the tourist communities of the two countries,” Mr Overchuk emphasised. “Related agreements are reflected in the protocol of today’s meeting. This also applies to the drafting of a bilateral agreement on specific areas of work in tourism,” he said.
The participants emphasised the importance of developing ties in education, science, culture and art. At present, 4,811 Armenian citizens undergo higher education programmes in Russian universities. Out of this number, the education of 2,068 Armenians is paid for from Russia’s state budget and 2,743 students study on a contractual basis.
On 19 April 2022, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia signed a programme of cooperation in Moscow for 2022-2025.
“The projects we are implementing and the issues we discussed today will allow us to form a very busy agenda of bilateral cooperation for 2023,” Mr Overchuk emphasised in concluding his remarks. The protocol of the 21st meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia was signed following the meeting.
A commemorative stamp cancellation ceremony on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and he Republic of Armenia was held at the end of the meeting.
