Thursday, November 23 2023 10:25

ArmInfo. Armenian-Indian relations have recently been actively developing, Armenia's Minister  of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan stated at a video conference with Indian Minister of New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh,

According to him, quoted by the press service of the Ministry of  Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of the Republic of  Armenia, Armenia recently joined the International Solar Alliance,  which makes it possible to develop bilateral relations at a more  active pace.

During the meeting, issues related to bilateral and multilateral  cooperation in the energy sector were discussed.

Gnel Sanosyan emphasized the importance of the participation of  Indian companies in the construction, reconstruction and  modernization of the energy infrastructure of Armenia.

The need for mutual visits of groups of specialists to Armenia and  India in order to exchange experience and build up existing potential  was also emphasized.

On November 16, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of  Armenia the official signing ceremony of the Framework Agreement on  the Establishment of the International Solar Alliance by Armenia was  held.

The signing ceremony was attended by Gnel Sanosyan, Minister of  Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of  Armenia and the Ambassadors of co-founding countries of the  International Solar Alliance - Ambassador of France Olivier  Decottignies and Ambassador of India Nilakshi Saha Sinha.

The Agreement was signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan  Safaryan, and the signed original copies were officially handed over  to Nilakshi Saha Sinha, Ambassador of India - the Depositary State of  the Agreement. The Agreement will then undergo an internal  ratification process and enter into force on the thirtieth day  following the handover of the instrument of ratification by Armenia  to the Depositary.

Armenia's accession to the International Solar Alliance is an  important step towards combating climate change, developing renewable  and green energy resources, ensuring energy access and energy  security.

The International Solar Alliance was established through the joint  efforts of India and France towards working together to combat  climate change and harness solar energy resources. The concept of the  Alliance was developed in 2015 within the framework of the 21st  Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate  Change (COP21) held in Paris. In 2020 The Alliance made changes to  the Framework Agreement, according to which all UN member states have  the opportunity to join the Alliance.  Currently, 116 states have  signed the Framework Agreement of the Alliance, 94 of which have  submitted the necessary ratification documents to become full members  of the Alliance. The decision-making body of the Alliance is the  Assembly, convened once a year at the level of relevant ministers  from the member states. The Alliance is headquartered in India.

Renewable energy is one of the most important directions of the  development of the energy system in Armenia, where solar energy has  developed particularly well during recent years. Today, more than 5  percent of the total electricity produced comes from solar plants;  the strategic program on energy development foresees by 2030 to  increase the share of solar energy in the total to 15 percent.