Pashinyan explains expanded mandates of ministries as Cabinet approves renaming

The Pashinyan administration is proposing to rename three ministries as part of changes to their functions and expanded roles, including adding international trade to the Foreign Ministry’s portfolio, artificial intelligence to the High-Tech Industry Ministry’s responsibilities, and renaming the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry as the Ministry of Labor and Welfare.

The proposal was approved at a Cabinet meeting and will be debated in parliament in the coming period.

Specifically, the government proposes renaming the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; the Ministry of High-Tech Industry as the Ministry of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence; and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs as the Ministry of Labor and Welfare.

Addressing the proposed renaming of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pashinyan said that 85% of the activities of the “Third Republic” had been related to conflict or activities and actions stemming from the conflict agenda, whereas now the situation has changed. 

“Economic activity and international economic ties should be part of the daily working agenda of our embassies and diplomatic service. I think this is an important conceptual change,” the prime minister said.

Addressing the proposed renaming of the Ministry of High-Tech Industry, Pashinyan said artificial intelligence is already becoming part of everyday reality, and appropriate institutions are needed to engage with this reality.

“Our understanding is that an artificial intelligence office will also be established within the ministry. The good news is that artificial intelligence infrastructure is no longer something that belongs in the news. Over the past year, we have recorded very serious and significant developments,” he said.

Armenia currently has three supercomputing centers, two of which are AI factories, he said. 

“The field of artificial intelligence will grow at a rapid pace in Armenia, which means that we need to reassess our understanding of electricity consumption and production,” Pashinyan said.

Addressing the proposed renaming of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Pashinyan said that in Armenia, work is often associated with hardship.

“We must perceive work as a tool for well-being. The model for achieving well-being in Armenia should be education, work, the development of professional skills, a healthy lifestyle and earned income,” the prime minister said.

Pashinyan said the state’s task is to ensure that people are more competitive in the labor market.

Pashinyan also noted that artificial intelligence should not replace people but help them work more efficiently.

“We must make efforts to ensure that artificial intelligence does not exclude people from life, and this is a very serious challenge,” he said.