Armenia joins Trade over Aid initiative

ArmInfo.  Armenia has joined the Trade over Aid initiative and is ready to actively participate in its activities. This was announced by Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia  Robert Abisogomonyan during his speech at the Trade over Aid forum in  New York.

According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Abisogomonyan noted that  Armenia views Trade over Aid as an innovative approach to  international development cooperation, complementing traditional  development tools, with an emphasis on strengthening national  capacity, attracting investment, economic growth, and enhancing  national ownership and sustainability, which aligns with Armenia's  development priorities. He also emphasized the importance of UNDP's  active involvement within the initiative, noting that the  organization's extensive experience and sector-specific expertise can  significantly contribute to governance and institutional reforms,  human capital development, strengthening connectivity, and ensuring  long-term inclusive economic growth.

Abisoghomonyan presented Armenia's economic diversification policy,  noting that it includes expanding access to new markets and transport  routes, as well as reducing structural dependence on a limited number  of sectors. He also emphasized that Armenia is consistently  transitioning to a knowledge-intensive and technology-based economy  by promoting innovation, supporting competitive small and  medium-sized enterprises, and investing in human capital development.  It was noted that the successful implementation of this strategic  program requires a peaceful and stable regional environment,  predictable international supply chains, diversified transport  routes, and the development of trade facilitation and digital  connectivity. Touching upon the topic of strategic economic  cooperation between Armenia and the United States, the Armenian  diplomat presented the TRIPP regional interconnection project as a  project aimed at creating new opportunities for trade, investment,  and economic cooperation, as well as further strengthening lasting  peace and stability in the South Caucasus. The program's core  principles, enshrined in the TRIPP framework agreement on strategic  cooperation signed between Armenia and the United States, were  presented.

Abisoghomonyan also touched upon the Firebird AI data center under  construction in Armenia, emphasizing that it is an important example  of strategic cooperation between Armenia and the United States in the  field of advanced technologies. It was noted that this investment  program, implemented with the participation of NVIDIA, Dell  Technologies, and other leading American companies, will contribute  to the development of artificial intelligence and digital  infrastructure, positioning Armenia as a regional technology hub. The  Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister also presented new prospects for  cooperation between Armenia and the United States in the field of  civilian nuclear energy, mentioning the completion of negotiations on  the "123 Agreement" on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear  energy, as well as the signing of a framework memorandum on ensuring  supplies in the extraction and processing of key minerals and rare  earth elements.

In his speech, Abisogomonyan also touched on recent developments in  Armenia's deepening trade integration with the European Union.

The US administration's Trade over Aid initiative proposes a new  model for economic development that brings together UN member states,  the private sector, and UN agencies to create a business-friendly  environment and promote economic growth based on free market  principles. The initiative was officially launched on April 27, 2026.