Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan marked Border Guard Day this week by emphasizing the strengthening of the nation's internationally recognized borders, describing border guards as a symbol of peace, security, and the state itself. The prime minister stated the government's policy aims to increase the presence of border guards along the Republic of Armenia's frontiers. He noted that areas undergoing demarcation and coming under the Border Guard Troops' control offer visible examples of what the government calls "Real Armenia" and its policy of pursuing institutional peace and stability.
Pashinyan highlighted the shift in recent years where anyone entering or leaving the Republic of Armenia interacts exclusively with the country's own border service during control procedures. He called this a milestone for Armenia's independence and sovereignty. While expressing gratitude to Russian Federation servicemen for their past role in border protection, he asserted that Armenia is now capable of gradually assuming responsibility for its own borders. This policy goal is supported by efforts to enhance the capabilities of the Border Guards.
Separately, Armenia continues to pursue ambitious goals in its technology sector, aiming to transform itself into a regional tech powerhouse. The country's legacy in mathematics and computer science from the Soviet era provides a foundation for this ambition. Efforts include early tech education programs like Armath labs, which began in 2014 and now operate in numerous schools across Armenia, teaching programming, robotics, and 3D modeling to young students.
Organizations like the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE) are working to build Armenia's tech ecosystem. UATE CEO Sarkis Karapetyan stated the vision is for Armenia to become a tech center delivering value globally. The country has seen success stories like Picsart, a photo and video editing company now valued at $1.5 billion, Krisp audio software, and Service Titan business software. Armenia ranked 57th place globally in a recent report on the best countries to launch a company, leading others in the South Caucasus.
The Armenian global diaspora, particularly in places like California, plays a part in connecting the local tech scene with international markets and investment. Venture capital firms like SmartGate operate in both California and Armenia, assisting Armenian entrepreneurs in establishing operations abroad. The recent influx of IT specialists from Russia has also added to the skill pool within Armenia's tech sector. How Armenia is trying to build a Silicon Valley in the Caucasus details these initiatives.
However, the country faces challenges in its trade relationships, particularly with neighboring Turkey. After a ban on Turkish finished goods was lifted, imports from Turkey into Armenia significantly increased. In 2024, Armenia imported $336 million worth of goods from Turkey, marking one of the highest rates in the last decade since the ban was lifted. Imports are diverse, including textiles, fuel, metals, and food items.
In contrast, exports from Armenia to Turkey remain minimal. Data for 2024 shows exports reaching only $0.4 million, a sharp decrease from $6.4 million in 2023. The highest export figure in recent years was recorded in 2022, largely due to gold exports. Armenia Importing More from Turkey; Exports Negligible outlines these trade figures.
Armenian goods face what have been described as artificial obstacles and internal barriers imposed by the Turkish government. This trade imbalance persists despite discussions about potentially opening the land border between the two countries.
Cross-border financial transfers between individuals also show a disparity. In 2024, $11 million was sent from Armenia to Turkey through banks, primarily for commercial purposes. Transfers from Turkey to Armenia were notably smaller, totaling approximately $2 million in the same period.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated, "The border guard is the most important service of the state, the border guard is a military service, but the border guard is also, in a sense, a symbol of peace, a symbol of stability, a symbol of security, and our policy is to increasingly add the presence of border guards along the internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Armenia, which is a very important intermediate step on the path to long-term peace, institutional peace and stability." The border guard is a symbol of peace and security, and our policy is to increase the presence of border guards along the borders of the Republic of Armenia. Prime Minister
