"The Asian Development Bank, together with the Government of Armenia, has established a new partnership strategy, which was approved by our Board of Directors last year. This strategy covers the years 2026–2030. Within its framework, the Asian Development Bank has identified three main priorities for Armenia." Leah Gutierrez, Director General of the Central and West Asia Regional Department of the ADB, stated this in a conversation with a NEWS.am correspondent during the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, answering a journalist's question regarding the key areas of cooperation with Armenia.

"These priorities are: strengthening Armenia's economic competitiveness, investing in modern and climate-resilient infrastructure, and developing human capital. Moving forward, we see that our cooperation must be multifaceted. Of course, transport connectivity is important, but we also see that continuous investments in the education and healthcare sectors truly boost productivity in the long term. Overall, the Asian Development Bank's support aims not only to create infrastructure but also to ensure more inclusive and sustainable growth throughout Armenia," Gutierrez added.

When asked how the Asian Development Bank supports private sector development in Armenia, the ADB representative replied:

"At the Asian Development Bank, we view the private sector as the main driver of resilient and inclusive growth in Armenia. We support its development through a comprehensive approach. This includes creating a favorable business environment through policy and regulatory reforms, expanding access to finance—particularly in local currency and for small and medium-sized enterprises—as well as supporting green investments and women-led businesses. We also support capital market development and directly invest in financially viable private projects. These projects must demonstrate a significant development impact and attract additional private capital."

Reflecting on the importance of regional cooperation for the ADB in the South Caucasus, Leah Gutierrez noted:

"As we have already discussed, regional cooperation is of vital importance for unlocking the shared growth potential of the South Caucasus, as well as Central and West Asia. The Asian Development Bank actively promotes interconnectivity through transport corridors—which we would like to transform into economic corridors—and, of course, through trade facilitation and energy links. We recognize that closer economic integration also enhances competitiveness and long-term sustainability. That is why you see us investing in infrastructure creation in Armenia and the region. This includes transport networks, such as the North-South road, which you mentioned earlier. We also support resilient social infrastructure—schools and urban services that contribute to inclusivity and human capital development. Therefore, we expect all of this to strengthen the role of regional cooperation as a driving force for sustainable development and the expansion of economic opportunities."

Leah Gutierrez noted that the Asian Development Bank is constantly evolving to respond to global challenges.

"These include climate change, digital transformation, and, of course, growing development needs worldwide. Thus, our approach combines financing with knowledge, partnership, and innovation to provide comprehensive solutions."

As a reminder, the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank was held from May 3 to 6 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, bringing together financial sector representatives, experts, and journalists from 69 ADB member countries. Edgar Mkrtchyan, the Deputy Minister of Finance of Armenia, also participated in the meeting.

Source: https://news.am/en/news/1037450