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EU programs in Armenia are not limited to social or institutional sectors; the EU also provides significant support to the private sector and regional development, particularly in Syunik province, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, said on Wednesday.
“The work of the EU is not always visible, but its scale is substantial. We have allocated over €250 million to programs supporting the private sector,” the EU ambassador said at the AIISA Security Forum titled Armenia and Peace: At the Intersection of Risks and Opportunities.
Maragos highlighted a program signed during the visit of EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos to Armenia. According to him, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has undertaken a €4 million package for the implementation of four programs, which are also aimed at supporting entrepreneurs displaced from Karabakh.
The ambassador noted that under this funding, at least 35 percent of each program is provided as a grant. “For example, if a program amounts to €1 million, €350,000 would be a grant,” he said, describing this as a very concrete example of EU support.
According to Maragos, the EU is ready to expand these programs. He also noted that, under other programs targeting the private sector, around 17,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in Armenia have been engaged, resulting in the creation of more than 27,000 jobs.
At the same time, the ambassador emphasized that these initiatives cannot solve all of Armenia’s problems. “The primary responsibility lies with the government, while the EU acts as a partner, supporting the government’s efforts toward economic growth and diversification for resilience,” he said.
The ambassador added that the EU also supports connectivity development, highlighting the construction of the Sisian-Kajaran road as particularly important.