ArmInfo.  The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) plans to increase investment in Armenia's economy to $500 million by the end of 2026, as announced by Yaroslav  Mandron, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the Eurasian  Development Bank, on December 18 in Almaty.

ArmInfo.  "The cash issue needs to be resolved. Why do we need cash? What do people do with cashless money? They give bribes, engage in shadow trading," as  stated by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during  a regular  meeting on December 18. He also instructed the head of the State  Revenue Committee "to find a way to close stores" that offer  discounts for cash payments.

ArmInfo.  Armenia's economy maintains high growth rates. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) expects growth to reach 6% by the end of 2025, which is higher  than the average rate over the past ten years, as reported by Anton  Dolgovechny, Senior Analyst at the EDB's Center for Country Analysis,  during the presentation of the Bank's macroeconomic forecast for  Armenia for 2026-2028.

ArmInfo.  In accordance with the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia,  exports of petroleum products from Azerbaijan to Armenia will begin  on December 18.

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ArmInfo.  The Armenian Cabinet has established a tariff quota for 2026 for certain types of long-grain rice from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The draft  resolution was approved during a regular meeting on December 18. As  stated in the explanatory note to the document, the adoption of the  draft is due to the need to ensure the consumption of the permissible  volume of imports allocated to the Republic of Armenia in accordance  with Chapter 2 of the Agreement "On Free Trade between the Eurasian  Economic Union and its Member States, of the One part, and the  Socialist Republic of Vietnam, of the Other part: dated May 29, 2015  and Decision No. 86 of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission  dated September 23, 2025.

ArmInfo. The pan-Armenian competition "Innovate Armenia" has launched, being held  for the second time.

ArmInfo.AraratBank is supporting the digitization of the extensive archive of the "Karin" Scientific Center for Research and Study of Armenian Traditional Culture, preserving it for future generations. The archive has been created over approximately 30 years of ethnographic fieldwork. Gagik Ginosyan spent decades traveling throughout all regions of Armenia, visiting villages and recording both well-known and newly discovered Armenian traditional songs, dances, dance songs, and rituals that had never been archived before. Ethnographically valuable materials have also been collected from Artsakh and abroad.

ArmInfo.On December 17, the largest and most magical Big Christmas Market with Coca-Cola 2025 exhibition-fair kicked off with a bright festive atmosphere. For the 5th consecutive year, the fair brings a true New Year’s spirit with hundreds of diverse booths, surprises, and gifts.

ArmInfo. On December 17, RA Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan received the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation to the Republic of Armenia, Andrea Barbara Baumann.

ArmInfo. The 24th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held in Yerevan, co-chaired by Armenian Deputy  Prime Minister  Mher Grigoryan and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk.

ArmInfo.  During its meeting on December 17, the Public Services Regulatory Commission approved Gazprom Armenia's investment program for 2026-2030.

ArmInfo. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze commented on the supply of oil  products from Azerbaijan to Armenia through Georgian territory.  Speaking on Georgia's First Channel, he noted that Azerbaijan is a  "special friend" of Georgia and that the two governments will easily  find common ground on any issue.

ArmInfo. Before the second reading, the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs   discussed amendments to the Tax Code and the related legislative  package. The document aims to postpone the entry into force of the  laws included therein from January 1, 2026, to July 1, 2026.

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ArmInfo. The Central  Bank of Armenia has decided to reduce the refinancing rate by 0.25 percentage points at the end of 2025, from 6.75% to 6.5%, after  keeping it unchanged for 10 months. The decision was made on December  16 at the meeting of the Central Bank of Armenia's Board. This is the  second key rate reduction in 2025; the previous one was in February  2025, also by 0.25 percentage points, from 7% to 6.75%. Since then,  it has been kept at the same level six times (in March, May, June,  August, September, and November). In accordance with this, rates on  Lombard repos have also been reduced from 8.25% to 8%, and on  deposits from banks from 5.25% to 5%.

ArmInfo.  The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide a 50 million euro loan to Armenia for the implementation of the "Armenia - Sustainable Syunik" program  (CEF+, Special Investment Window 1). During an extraordinary meeting  on December 16, the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia will  discuss the draft agreement with the EIB submitted by the Armenian  government for ratification.

ArmInfo.  Armenia will receive a $250 million loan from the Asian Development Bank to  address housing needs of internally displaced persons from Nagorno-  Karabakh. The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia  is  discussing the draft agreement with the Bank during an extraordinary  session on December 16.