GIZ and KfW to open offices in Yerevan

ArmInfo.On May 4, the Government of Armenia approved the draft Law of the Republic of Armenia "On the  Ratification of the Agreement on the Establishment of Local Branches of the German Society for International Cooperation LLC (GIZ) and the Bank for Reconstruction Credits (KFW).

The planned opening of permanent offices of GIZ and KfW in Armenia  was announced in the summer of 2022 during a joint press conference  of Vahan Kerobyan and  Minister for Economic Development and  Cooperation of Germany, Svenja Schulze. Negotiations on opening  representative offices in Armenia lasted 12 years.

On March 2 this year, the press service of the Ministry of Economy  reported that the agreement on the exchange of notes on opening  offices in Armenia was signed by Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan from  the Armenian side, and German Ambassador to Armenia Viktor Richter  from the German side. 

According to Kerobyan, this agreement opens a new page in relations  between Armenia and Germany. He emphasized that the  offices will, in  fact, have the status of diplomatic representations  , he said. As  the minister pointed out GIZ and KfW are the most active institutions  operating in Armenia.  In particular, he noted that the  Bank is the  largest creditor in the country, implementing numerous  projects in  the field of infrastructure development, energy,  construction of  reservoirs, etc. In this regard, Kerobyan recalled 2  major projects  funded by KfW for the construction of the Kaps Reservoir and power  lines from Armenia to Georgia. "We hope that  these projects will  soon enter the workflow," the head of the state  department said.  In  turn, German Ambassador to Armenia added that  over 25 years of  cooperation with Armenia, the Bank has provided  loans in the amount  of 1.2 billion euros, which were used to  implement programs in the  field of water supply, energy,  biodiversity, etc