Armenian-Indian relations experienced significant increase in recent years - Ambassador of Armenia to India

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS.  In recent years, Armenian-Indian relations have seen a significant increase, with the political dialogue gaining new momentum.

The meeting between the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, held in New York in 2019 within the framework of the UN General Assembly, was an important stimulus for this development.

In an interview with Armenpress correspondent, Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to India, Vahagn Afyan said, stressing that the prospect of deepening interstate cooperation was highlighted at the aforementioned meeting. 

" During the first visit of Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to Armenia in October 2021, as well as during the subsequent working visit of Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to India within the framework of the "Raisina Dialogue", the commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties in various fields was reaffirmed.

In particular, the expansion of cooperation in the trade-economic, defense and cultural spheres, as well as the promotion of interpersonal contacts, were emphasized," said  the Ambassador.

Referring to the bilateral economic relations, the diplomat stated that during the past year, as compared to 2018-2019, the volumes of trade turnover between Armenia and India have tripled. Last year, that figure was 358.6 million US dollars. However, taking into account the demand for exported and imported goods between the two countries and the steps taken towards enhancing interaction, it should be noted that there is a huge unrealized potential. Therefore, consistent steps are being taken to multiply the volume of trade with India in the coming years.

"Tourism is also considered as one of the perspective sectors in relations with India. This is an important area of ​​cooperation, which also contributes to the deepening of mutual recognition between the two friendly peoples. Here I would like to note that active steps are being taken to establish a direct air connection between Armenia and India, and we hope that in the near future there will be tangible achievements with the involvement of both Armenian and Indian airlines," the Ambassador informed.

In the context of connectivity and communication between the countries, naturally, the topic related to regional logistics mega-projects was not bypassed, especially since Armenia is highly interested in developing cooperation within the framework of the "North-South" international transport corridor, the Chabahar port's full launch project, as well as the Persian Gulf-Black Sea International Transport and Transit Corridor.

"As for Armenia's participation in the Chabahar port project, practical studies are underway within the working group headed by the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia," our interlocutor noted. According to Afyan, the mentioned programs are consistent with the "Crossroads of Peace" concept developed by the Armenian government.''

Continuing on the theme of promoting people-to-people contacts, the Ambassador also touched on bilateral cultural ties, stressing that according to established tradition, every year in January-February, the rich Armenian cultural heritage is presented at the annual Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Faridabad, India. This festival includes the participation of around 50 states and attracts thousands of visitors from India, regional and distant  countries.

With the support of our embassy, a group of twelve Indian artists visited Armenia in March. Meetings and discussions were organized at the Union of Artists and the Museum-Institute of the Armenian Genocide. Agreements have been reached to implement joint cultural programs, organize exhibitions, master classes, and other projects to strengthen the cultural connection between representatives of the fine arts in Armenia and India and to discover new talents.

In addition, on April 19, the embassy, ​​in cooperation with the International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry of India, organized the screenings of the film "The Color of Pomegranate" and collage works dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the famous Armenian film director Sergey Parajanov in Noida Cinema.

It is also planned to organize a concert series in Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai (Madras) dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Charles Aznavour, the national hero of Armenia, world-famous musician, included in the 2024-2025 UNESCO calendar of anniversaries of famous people and important events," the diplomat noted .

Continuing on the topic, the Ambassador noted that film production is another area that can significantly contribute to deepening ties between peoples. In this context, Afyan informed that in July 2022, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the National Cinema Center of Armenia and the Indian Trade and Economic Organization aimed at developing the film industry and promoting Armenian-Indian cooperation in that field.

"At the initiative of the embassy, an agreement was reached to finalize the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the National Film Center of Armenia and the International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry of India. It should be emphasized that the Armenian Law on Cinematography, amended in 2023, introduced cashback mechanisms offering up to 40 percent reimbursement of film producers' expenses, making Armenia even more attractive for shooting films, including for Indian filmmakers," the ambassador noted.

Reference was also made to bilateral cooperation in the field of education. The Ambassador noted that the number of Indian citizens studying in Armenia is increasing every year. Some of India's leading universities, such as Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, offer scholarships to Armenian students, and currently, several students are studying at universities in various Indian states. In this context, Afyan emphasized the "Academic City" program developed by the Government of Armenia, which, when implemented, will significantly increase Armenia's capacity to host foreign students.

Manvel Margaryan

Photos by Hayk Harutyunyan