President of the Republic Vahagn Khachaturyan delivered a speech at the Annual Investment Meeting in Abu Dhabi.
“First of all, I would like to express my appreciation to the Emirati side for organizing the Annual Investment Meeting at such a high level.
I am pleased to be in the United Arab Emirates—a reliable partner for Armenia in achieving progress in the fields of sustainable development and innovation, as well as in realizing technological potential at both regional and international levels.
I fully share the vision that investments play a vital role in addressing global pressing challenges such as climate change, poverty, and inequality. Ultimately, strengthening international cooperation is essential for promoting global financial stability and ensuring equal opportunities for all investors in the global market.
We can all agree that the current world order is changing at a rather dynamic pace, and we are living through a transformative and, in some ways, unpredictable phase of history. Every piece of information today seems to carry a negative connotation, contributing to a sense of uncertainty.
Armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions, crises, economic instability, climate threats, human rights violations, social unrest, poverty, and inequality—all of these pose serious challenges to the foundations of global stability.
We must not overlook the role of rapidly growing artificial intelligence in our modern world. It is of vital importance for improving people’s lives and building resilience in response to emerging challenges. To address these challenges effectively, we need a collective commitment—dialogue, mutually beneficial solutions, and negotiations. I would like to quote the late founding President of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan: “Unity is the path to strength, honor, and the common good.”
In the context of geopolitical shifts and the revision of previous norms, Armenia—as a peace-loving, open, democratic country with a forward-looking technological vision—is building a modern, vibrant political system and a competitive economy. Our most valuable asset is an educated, hardworking, and law-abiding society. The government, in turn, invests in the necessary infrastructure to support technological growth. We are establishing technology centers and hubs such as COAF and TUMO creative technology learning centers, which focus on developing young talent and educating a competitive generation.
It’s no secret that there is a high level of interest among our youth in high technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics, and innovation.
We offer one of the most open and attractive investment environments in the region, operating under a “open-door” policy.
Through the advancement of democracy, we are continuously strengthening a fair and competitive economic environment, the rule of law, and an independent judiciary—factors that directly contribute to a reliable, protected, and evolving investment climate.
The deep and comprehensive reforms implemented by the government in the business environment create favorable conditions for attracting foreign investments.
Armenia provides legal guarantees to foreign investors, including property protection, free movement of capital, and a transparent tax system.
In recent years, Armenia has achieved high ratings in international indexes, such as democracy, human rights protection, the fight against corruption, economic freedom, and a liberal business and investment environment. Armenia has bilateral investment protection treaties with more than 40 countries, including the United Arab Emirates.
Armenia offers several Free Economic Zones that provide favorable conditions for foreign investors. These zones offer tax benefits, simplified customs procedures, and access to regional markets.
My delegation is here with concrete investment projects, which my colleagues will present to you. We are ready for practical negotiations, the creation of joint ventures, and the exchange of experience and technologies.
At the same time, I find it important to take the opportunity to inform our partners about the existing challenges in the South Caucasus region.
Normalization of relations with neighboring countries is one of the main priorities of the Republic of Armenia.
Our country remains committed to the peace agenda, an essential component of which is the “Crossroads of Peace” project proposed by the Government of Armenia, serving as a tool for establishing peace in the region and promoting economic connections. This initiative offers a unique opportunity for regional stability, economic development, and the launch of international trade corridors.
The core idea of the project is the development of communication routes—roads, railways, pipelines, communication cables, and electricity lines—through repair, construction, and operation, ultimately creating opportunities for people-to-people contact, which is a key component of peace.
The unblocking of all regional infrastructure in the South Caucasus—based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality, and reciprocity—will create exceptional opportunities for the movement of goods and people.
I am confident that peace in the region has no alternative. Moreover, the South Caucasus should become a region with no closed borders, which in turn will contribute to the deepening of economic cooperation, the activation of people-to-people ties, and the overall sustainable economic growth of the entire region.”
