ArmInfo. Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) CJSC (a member of Tashir Group) and Schneider Electric (France), a global specialist in energy management and automation solutions, have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The signing ceremony took place in Paris in the presence of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who paid an official visit to France. The companies agreed on multilateral cooperation in energy, production and personnel training.
The Memorandum was signed at the headquarters of the Movement of French Enterprises (MEDEF) by Karen Darbinyan, Chairman of the ENA Board of Directors, Karen Harutyunyan, General Manager of ENA, and Johan Vanderplaetse, Schneider Electric President for Russia and the CIS. Emmanuel Babeau, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Finance and Legal Affairs at Schneider Electric, was also present at the signing ceremony.
The parties intend to jointly participate in the project of modernization of the electrical grid infrastructure facilities of Armenia with due regard for the best global technologies. Tashir Group and Schneider Electric are set to study the possibility of industrial cooperation aimed at engineering and manufacturing up-to-date equipment and automation systems for supplies within the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
In addition, creation of a technical laboratory at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia will become an important direction of the joint activities. The companies are going to equip the laboratory with up-to-date machinery and work out a training course for the specialists of Tashir Group and Electric Networks of Armenia. The Schneider Electric-equipped laboratory at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia will familiarize students with the advanced technologies of energy management and automation solutions.
Johan Vanderplaetse, Schneider Electric President for Russia and the CIS, noted that the cooperation with the leading energy company of Armenia and the leading polytechnic university of the country opens up new opportunities for developing and introducing advanced technologies, which enhance the energy efficiency and reliability in the country. Vanderplaetse pointed out that Schneider Electric and Tashir Group are currently considering launch of joint manufacture of up- to-date equipment in Armenia for supplies in the country and within the EEU.
"I think the cooperation with Schneider Electric will open up new opportunities for our company and Armenia's power engineering in general. ENA has embarked upon a new course of development and today's agreement will also contribute to implementation of our plans and tasks," said Karen Harutyunyan, General Manager of ENA.
In early February, Schneider Electric announced the launch of cooperation with the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, as well as its plans to open an office in Armenia.
Schneider Electric is a global specialist in energy management and automation with operations in more than 100 countries. Schneider Electric develops connected technologies and solutions to manage energy and process in ways that are safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable. In 2016, its revenues amounted to nearly EUR 25 billion.