Armenia | News

On June 15, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, will be on a working visit to the Swiss canton of Nidwalden, where he will participate in the Global Peace Summit.

Viva-MTS presents new prepaid tariff plan “TOURIST UNLIM”, which includes unlimited Internet, 300 minutes for on-net calls, for calls to RA networks, US, Canada, and the MTS Russia network, as well as an opportunity to send 300 SMS. By the way, upon consumption of the 300-minute package, the subscriber gets 10 000 on-net minutes within the tariff plan. “Viva-MTS always strives to give the best to its customers. The “TOURIST UNLIM” is both for those visiting Armenia, and those customers, who want to have unlimited Internet and regularly travel across Armenia. This tariff plan is a wonderful combination of price and quality,” Viva-MTS General Director Armen Avetisian said. When creating the “TOURIST UNLIM” prepaid tariff plan, travelers’ preferences and interests to stay in touch with their dear ones through voice and Internet services, as well as using the Internet without restrictions to upload photos and videos to share about their travels on social networks and utilizing different maps and navigation system...

Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for our compatriots in the Diaspora. To buy real estate in Armenia, our compatriots in the Diaspora can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia, regardless of their country of residence and current location. When making a loan decision, the fact whether the applicant has registered income in Armenia, and the applicant’s permanent residency, are not essential. The client’s income in another country is considered as the source of income. To note, disbursement and service fees are not charged on these loans.  The mortgage loan can be provided in AMD, USD or Euros, for a term of 60-360 months. Full terms and conditions of loans and other details are available on Ameriabank’s website.  To make use of the offer, the client needs to fill in the application form on Ameriabank’s website, after which the Bank’s specialist will contact the client to discuss the terms of the loan.   Ameriabank CJSC Ameriabank is a leading financial and technological...

The 12th edition of “SunChild" festival themed around "BioDiversity: The Pulse of Life” is set to take place in Yerevan from May 24-28, with Ucom's support. During the festival, 30 films will be shown, which will compete in four categories: a film about conservationists, a full-length documentary about the conservation of biodiversity, a short film about the conservation of biodiversity, films made by or for children/youth on the topic of protecting nature. “For Ucom, as a green company, protecting the environment is a very important value, and awareness among young people on this topic is the best way to save our nature and planet. We are happy to support this festival, confident that the young people participating in it will become bearers of the same values and will contribute to building a stable future for Armenia,” said Ralph Yirikian, General Director of Ucom. “For several years now, SunChild has been educating our society about global environmental challenges, serving to spread a sustainable lifestyle...

The General Director of  Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. During the lecture titled “The Role of Effective Management: How to Instill Hope in Your Employees and Unite them Around a Common Goal and Strategy,” Mr. Yirikian discussed crucial leadership skills and the main components of effective leadership. The lecture was organized under a memorandum of cooperation between the Galaxy group of companies and the French University. As part of this collaboration, managers from the Galaxy group of companies regularly deliver lectures and conduct master classes for French University students. Additionally, university students undertake internships in various companies within the group, including Ucom. “To be a good manager, you need experience; it's impossible to become one without it. A good manager should promote efficient work processes and lead by example. Continuous learning and development, both personally and for employees, are essential, as employees are the main as...

Byblos Bank Armenia has donated AMD 5 million to the Health Fund for the Children of Armenia to support the fund’s projects aimed at treating children with health issues. Prioritizing meaningful social impact, the Bank continues to invest in causes that foster healthy, thriving communities. Byblos Bank Armenia CEO Hayk Stepanyan believes it is important to participate in the organization of treatment of children with health issues and the prevention of diseases among kids. “Byblos Bank Armenia anchors its firm belief in our Nation by supporting future generations. Whether through education, health, culture or more, the Bank is committed to championing projects and supporting foundations whose goals align with its vision. The Health Fund for the Children of Armenia is a natural partner for us through their dedication of the professional team , and their relentless activities to promote children's health in our country. We recognize that patients have different needs, and such measures enable industry leaders t...

Secretarul de stat al SUA Antony Blinken a discutat cu preşedintele Azerbaidjanului Ilham Aliev despre importanţa avansării procesului de pace cu Armenia, subliniind că „nimic nu justifică o creştere a tensiunilor la graniţa” cu această ţară, potrivit unui comunicat difuzat de Departamentul de Stat

As part of the collaboration between Ucom and the SunChild NGO, another solar panel has been installed, this time in the village of Vanevan. The solar photovoltaic power plant with an installed capacity of 9.9 kW will supply the community's infrastructure with electricity. Such green solutions will not only have a positive impact on the environment of Armenia, but at the same time will allow the community to save on electricity and use the savings for other needs. “The environment is one of our most important values, and we are excited about the opportunity to improve people's lives through green technology. Ucom considers its duty to improve the quality of life of its fellow citizens not only by providing quality services, but also through such effective and useful projects," stated Ralph Yirikian, Director General of Ucom. “This is already the fourth community-based infrastructure development project we have implemented with the support of Ucom. It is crucial for us that the implemented work has a lasting a...

Ameriabank has been named the Best Bank in Armenia by Global Finance magazine in its 31st annual awards for the World’s Best Banks. Winners have been chosen in nearly 150 countries, territories and districts in the world with consideration of criteria such as growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development and innovation in products as well as the opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts, banking consultants and others involved in the industry. According to Global Finance, the winners of this year’s awards are those banks that carefully addressed their customers’ needs in difficult markets and accomplished strong results while laying the foundations for future success. Winning organizations managed their assets and liabilities in a savvy way in light of the fast-changing interest rate scenarios. “Banking has reached another watershed moment with the debut of generative artificial intelligence, which promises to rewrite the industry playbook,” sai...

With the support of Viva-MTS and with joint efforts of Union of Employers of ICT (UEICT) and National Polytechnic University of Armenia (NPUA), two auditoriums renovated and turned into IoT labs have been opened at the 9th building of the university. Two well-equipped auditoriums provide a motivating educational environment. Since 2019, partner organizations have opened 11 auditoriums and a co-working space at NPUA to provide modern educational conditions for students and startups. Viva-MTS has invested AMD 184 million for this purpose. Government representatives, the Rector and faculty members of NPUA, Viva-MTS General Director and representatives of the Company, board members of UEICT, its Executive Director, as well as other members of the Union participated in the opening ceremony of the educational facilities. RA Deputy Minister of Economy Rafael Gevorgyan noted in his welcoming speech that not only the creation of appropriate infrastructure is important for strengthening the ties between education and b...

Ucom is set to commence a network modernization in various regions of Armenia. In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. This replacement is a part of a year-long network modernization project aimed at improving connection quality. Due to these planned works, some subscribers in Shirak, Aragatsotn, Kotayk, and Armavir marzes, as well as partially in Gegharkunik, Lori, and Ararat marzes, may experience direct call interruptions. The migration will be organized during nighttime to minimize inconvenience to customers, however, voice services may still be affected during the day. It should be noted that connection outages or call drops will affect mostly 3G connection and direct calls. We apologize in advance for any inconveniences this may cause and assure customers that they will be notified beforehand about future upgrades.

Ucom announces the launch of the modernization efforts aimed at enhancing the coverage and end-user performance of existing 4G+ networks in the regions of Armenia and the upgrade and expansion of the mobile network in preparation for the delivery of 5G-ready services. With the first batch from planned shipments of this year Ucom received an up-to-date systems and radio modules from Nokia. These up-to-date modules will be utilized to modernize a portion of Ucom’s regional sites enhancing coverage in those areas and extending LTE technology. The latest released baseband and radio modules are designed to support all known mobile technologies simultaneously, including 3G/4G+. This also will facilitate a seamless transition to 5G in the future, requiring only a software reconfiguration. "According to our vision, expanding and modernizing our regional networks is one of Ucom’s primary goals, as well as laying down the network of the future preparing our equipment to support 5G technology. Today this is the first st...

Selecționerul naționalei Under-21 a României, Daniel Pancu, a anunţat lotul pentru meciul cu Armenia, ce va avea loc pe 26 martie, în deplasare, în calificările pentru Campionatul European de tineret din 2025, informează site-ul Federaţiei Române de Fotbal (FRF).

Ameriabank has been named the Best Bank in Armenia in sustainable finance for 2024. This achievement marks the fourth consecutive win for Ameriabank for funding initiatives designed to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and help build a more sustainable future. Ameriabank stands as the sole recipient from Armenia to have been honored with this prestigious award since its inception in 2019. The winners, selected in 53 countries and territories, were chosen by the editors of Global Finance, based on entries, as well as independent research. Criteria for evaluation included governance policies and goals as well as measurable achievements in environmental and social sustainability financing. “Climate change concerns, regulations and increasing investor awareness have ensured growing demand for sustainable investments,” said Global Finance funder and editorial director Joseph Giarraputo. “Innovations in clean technologies, green finance instruments, and data analytics are also making sustainable finan...

Over a dozen diplomats accredited in Armenia and approximately 50 representatives from the business community took part in one of the most significant events in Armenia's business community – the annual business breakfast. The gathering aimed to foster discussions on business and culture, exploring potential collaborations. This event, organized for the third consecutive year, was a joint effort of Galaxy Group of Companies and the European Business Association, with active support and participation from European embassies accredited in Armenia. Aram Khachatryan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Group of Companies, highlighted the strategic significance of the European direction for Galaxy Group, emphasizing the presence of over 200 partners from Europe. He underscored the importance of such events as more than just breakfast, considering them a platform for fostering creative and innovative approaches. Mr. Khachatryan views these gatherings as an opportunity to address challenges, share succe...

Boosting green lending for SMEs and households, especially in agriculture, manufacturing, and small-scale renewable energy The Green for Growth Fund (GGF), an impact investment fund advised by Finance in Motion, is re-engaging with the leading Armenian SME bank ARARATBANK through the provision of a USD 5 million loan facility. In a significant move to drive sustainable development in Armenia, this strategic partnership with ARARATBANK aims to broaden the network of GGF partners on the ground and provide critical support for green lending initiatives directed at SMEs and retail clients. The funding will help the Bank in meeting the growing demand for green capital expenditures in key sectors, such as agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, and construction. Additionally, it will support individual households in adopting energy efficient systems and eco-friendly practices, including the implementation of small renewable energy measures.  The Fund’s support extends beyond financing, incorporating a dedicate...

A long-term loan facility to prioritize women in business The European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) reaffirms its commitment to fostering economic development in Armenia by providing a USD 5 million senior loan facility to its long-standing partner ARARATBANK. With this new facility, the partners aim to facilitate access to finance for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and importantly those that are majority-owned or led by women and contribute to increased business competitiveness and inclusiveness in Armenia. ARARATBANK is a leading SME financier in the country with a proven strong track record in gender finance. EFSE’s investment will further solidify the Bank’s dedication to supporting women-owned or -led enterprises and promoting socio-economic empowerment and inclusiveness. EFSE Regional Director Oxana Binzaru said: “We are honored to continue our journey with ARARATBANK, a trusted partner that shares our mission to foster economic development. This USD 5 million investment is a t...

Statistics show that almost 3 billion people around the world shop online every year. The trend of sharp increase in purchases has also increased significantly in recent years in Armenia. Globbing company, which is also a leader in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, makes it possible for people in Armenia to make and receive orders from the most famous online stores from 8 countries over the world by providing foreign addresses. Globbing's foreign warehouses continue to work in emergency mode. A high shipping rate has been set for Black Friday online shopping. Globbing managed to deliver most of the parcels significantly earlier. For example, in the US warehouse, despite a 37% increase in orders, 99% of parcels were registered on the same day; most in just 4 hours on average, in the case when registration usually takes 24 hours and 48 hours during peak periods. This year, foreign stores also have provided up to 90% discounts for the most popular products. During Black Friday and the following Cyber Monday, Globbing e...

Ameriabank has been recognized as the Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Armenia for the year 2023, as announced by Euromoney magazine in its Awards for Excellence. The magazine emphasizes Ameriabank's commitment to digital innovation and transformative technology, which has surpassed that of its peers over the past 12 months. According to the magazine, Ameriabank’s impressive digital metrics include a remarkable 46% year-on-year increase in its internet and mobile banking user base, with active users growing by an impressive 67% across all channels. Ameriabank also distinguished itself by recording around 12 million electronic transactions on its channels, setting a new record in the market. For several years, the bank has offered an online onboarding solution for physical clients, allowing them to open their first bank account or order their first card online. In 2023, the Bank introduced an end-to-end solution that automates the customer identification process, eliminating the need for calls. As a result, ...

The website-building platform Ucraft Next has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first company in Armenia to receive Fiverr certification. Fiverr, a globally popular platform, connects users with professionals across various fields for a wide range of tasks and services. Now users can find Ucraft Next Ucraft Next specialists on the platform who specialize in building online stores, who can assist in creating a professional website, designing a logo and brand identity, updating an existing website, or providing consultations for any business. Upon registering on Fiverr, all one needs to do is find the right Ucraft Next specialist, furnish them with the necessary information, and specify the website requirements. This presents an excellent opportunity for businesses to receive professional assistance in crafting their perfect website. One of Ucraft Next's notable advantages is its diverse array of features and integrations for building online stores. For users in Armenia, there are also integratio...