Armenia

With a territory of 29,800 km², Armenia, the land of stones, is roughly the size of the federal states of Tyrol and Styria taken together. Over a third of the population is engaged in agriculture, although after the collapse of the Soviet Union sales markets were lost and machinery and know-how are lacking due to the break-up of large-scale enterprises. The outcome has been migration.

Paving the way for development
This is why ADA attaches importance to promoting agriculture in its cooperation with Armenia. Knowledge transfer and new cropping methods raise agricultural productivity. Starting up small dairies or other processing enterprises will afford future prospects for the rural population.

To lay the necessary foundation for business activity, Austria is also helping to build a modern and efficient administrative apparatus. The situation in Armenia is exacerbated by its lack of diplomatic relations with Turkey and the conflict with Azerbaijan in the East and Southwest. It only maintains friendly relations with its neighbours in the North and South - Georgia and Iran.

Austria’s engagement in Armenia goes back to the severe earthquake in 1988, when it provided humanitarian aid. Armenia has been a priority country of Austrian Development Cooperation since 2011.