Petr Fiala on prospects of small aircrafts production in Stepanavan  by Czech Balus Tech company

ArmInfo.The Czech Balus Tech company is considering the possibility of manufacturing small aircraft in the  city of Stepanavan. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala statedat a joint press conference with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on May 4 in Prague.

"There are good neighborly and successful relations between Armenia  and the Czech Republic, which we want to further deepen. We see  additional opportunities for deepening our cooperation in the fields  of economy, science, education and energy. For example, energy, and  in particular, nuclear energy is very important for both the Czech  Republic and the Republic of Armenia," he said, pointing out that  Czech scientists are involved in the work to improve safety at the  Metsamor nuclear power plant. "Our specialists are involved in  current repairs, and this is an example of successful cooperation,"  he added.  In addition, the Czech Republic can also offer Armenia  high-quality technologies, for example, in the field of "smart  cities".

He expressed satisfaction with the deepening of cooperation in the  field of aviation. "There is a project on the production of small  aircraft by Balus Tech in the city of Stepanavan," the Czech prime  minister added.  There is also a program within the framework of  which it is possible to manufacture small aircraft in the city of  Stepanavan, Armenia. After the earthquake, an airport was built  there.  Earlier, the Armenian authorities have repeatedly addressed  the topic of the reconstruction of the Stepanavan airport with the  help of Czech partners: in October 2021, when a delegation of the  Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of Armenia  visited the Czech Republic (Olomouc), and in July 2021, when the  press service of the Ministry reported, that Deputy Minister Armen  Simonyan received representatives of the Czech Balus Tech company. 

According to the information, during the meeting, the parties  discussed the reconstruction of the Stepanavan airport, as well as  the organization of the production of small aircraft on its  territory. Armen Simonyan welcomed the initiative of the Czech  company and expressed readiness for further cooperation.  The parties  decided to hold another meeting for a more detailed consideration of  the project of the Czech company, which, if implemented, will be  presented to the Armenian government. And in May 2022, Sanosyan and  the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Armenia,  Bedrich , also discussed this issue. The Ambassador of the Czech  Republic highly assessed Armenia's readiness to cooperate with Czech  companies. Meanwhile, back in October 2007, the then head of the  General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia Artem Movsesyan,  referring to the fate of the non-functioning airport in the Armenian  city of Stepanavan, said that it was not profitable and at this stage  there was generally a question of the expediency of its maintenance.