The railway with Azerbaijan will never be closed, says Nikol Pashinyan (photos, videos)

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with representatives of Armenia’s largest employers in a working breakfast format.

Welcoming the participants, the Prime Minister noted that the meeting brought together representatives of companies that have created the most jobs in Armenia and thanked them for their contribution. According to him, since 2018, these companies have remained responsive to the government’s policies, contributing to the creation of approximately 288,000 jobs.
 

“But it is obvious that we did not create these jobs – you did. Of course, the government’s policies contributed by creating a certain environment. In our election program, we have set a target of creating at least 25,000 jobs annually, which is very important,” Pashinyan said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining this positive trend.

Next, the Prime Minister touched upon the introduction of artificial intelligence into the economy, noting that it also carries risks, particularly in relation to employment. Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the importance of conducting both analytical and practical work in this area to prevent potential problems. “We need to understand what actions are required and in which directions we must cooperate in order to ensure the proper transformation of the labor market,” the head of state said.

Pashinyan added that in recent years the government has invested billions of drams to enhance the modernization and productive capacity of the economy. In particular, he highlighted the Economic Modernization Program, which has played a significant role in sustaining economic momentum. He recalled that since 2018, despite the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and the war, Armenia has recorded an average annual economic growth of around 7%. In this context, the Prime Minister thanked business representatives for their contribution to economic development.

Pashinyan stressed that Armenia is now entering a fundamentally new phase of economic development, closely linked to the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “We expect major developments in the near future, primarily related to the launch of the TRIPP project, which is crucial as it will ultimately remove the Republic of Armenia from the blockade. In fact, Armenia has already partially overcome the blockade: railway cargo transportation through the territory of Azerbaijan is possible and is being carried out, and exports are also feasible by rail via Georgia. However, within the framework of the TRIPP project, we will open the railway with Azerbaijan. This is extremely important, and there is a political agreement that this railway will never be closed – in other words, it will serve as a reliable route for both imports and exports,” he stated.

Summing up, the Prime Minister noted that since 2018, Armenia’s gross domestic product has grown by 53% in real terms, bringing the economy to a stage where business-to-business, state-to-business, state-to-employee, and employer-employee relations must evolve to a new level. He emphasized the importance of the meeting as a platform to discuss these issues and hear the perspectives of business leaders.

“Once again, I would like to thank all of you for the changes that have taken place in our country, because there are sectors and companies whose role in the Republic of Armenia is difficult to overestimate. It is very important that these companies bring a new mindset, new thinking, and a new culture, which is in fact the most valuable capital – opening up opportunities to enter new sectors and fields of activity. I believe that Armenia today has horizons it has never had before. Our country is experiencing an unprecedented period of opportunities, and we must be able to use this continuously and effectively. It is clear that the government cannot achieve this without those who play a key role in the real sector of the economy. Beyond expressing gratitude, I want to draw everyone’s attention to this reality – this is my main message,” said Nikol Pashinyan.

The meeting continued with discussions on a number of issues related to government measures aimed at economic development, the introduction of new tools, ongoing improvements in the investment environment, the expansion of existing opportunities, and addressing current challenges.