ArmInfo. Vassilis Maragos, Head of the EU Delegation, the EU Ambassadors, familiarized themselves with the projects being implemented in southern Armenia as part of the "Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative."
Supporting Rural Students
During the study tour, which included media representatives, the Ambassadors visited the Sisian branch of the National Agrarian University of Armenia. MAVETA Program Manager Lilit Hovhannisyan spoke about the initiative's goals, which are aimed at improving the self-employment of students from the rural sector. The program, launched in September 2022, will increase graduates' competitiveness in the labor market.
Social Taxi for Patients
During a visit to the Armenian-French Cardiology Center in Goris, established by Sante Armenia, the Ambassadors were introduced to the region's first social taxi service. This center, the first specialized institution in southern Armenia, provides free, multidisciplinary care and has served over 460 patients since its opening. The need to create a social taxi service, according to center representatives, arose due to the mobility issues of the project's beneficiaries. To date, approximately 30 beneficiaries have used the center's services, with a total of approximately 230 transfers.
Opening of Metakse Hnchyun Printing House
As part of the press tour, the Ambassadors also attended the opening of the Metakse Hnchyun Printing House, whose director is Nerses Kharatyan. He explained that this printing house creates jobs for people leaving prison - supporting reintegration, dignity, and inclusion.
Syunik Governor and Ambassadors on the Projects
Syunik Governor Robert Ghukasyan highly appreciated the EU's support for the region's development, highlighting that more than 80 programs aimed at enhancing the region's resilience are currently in progress. Ghukasyan also mentioned that project proposals come from the communities themselves, allowing them to identify priority issues and discuss solutions at the regional and ministry levels.
Maragos emphasized the importance of these programs as they are targeted and help those in greatest need. "The importance of these programs lies in the fact that people benefit from them. And it is also important that they cover various areas," the Ambassador noted.
In turn, German Ambassador to Armenia Claudia Busch added that these initiatives are inspiring and open up new opportunities for adapting to modern requirements. Regarding the press tour itself, she noted its uniqueness in terms of the opportunity to become familiar with the implementation of programs and their results on the ground, as well as to communicate with beneficiaries and identify their needs through face- to-face interactions. "All these efforts are of great importance in shaping a bright future for the residents of the region," the ambassador concluded.
Note that the official launch of the Resilient Syunik Team Europe Initiative took place on January 18, 2021.
"The Resilient Syunik Team Europe" initiative is the joint undertaking of the European Union, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, EU Member states - Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland also joining as an external partner. The initiative aims to contribute to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the Syunik region: improving the business environment for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector. It also seeks to expand access to citizen-oriented and high-quality public services; promote the application of regional approaches to green development and biodiversity protection, and encourage sustainable use and restoration. The initiative is in line with the RA Government's plan for the development of the Syunik region, and the priorities of the landmark program for the sustainability of Armenia's southern regions within the framework of the EU Economic and Investment Plan.
