In 2013, upon the initiative of Hilda Tchoboian, the Regional Councilor and current Vice-President of France Armenia International Network, some French-Armenian friends came up with the idea of founding a purely economic association which would bring together the leaders of the Rhône-Alpes region’s economic life, the second region of France in terms of economic dynamism. This new unique project attracted the attention of business leaders, and consequently, quickly associated themselves with the network.

In late June Vanadzor Technology Center hosted first Engineering Forum-Expo in Armenia organized by Enterprise Incubator Foundation, RA Government, Regional Administration of Lori Marz, Union of Employers of ICT, Unicomp and International Science and Technology Center.

Regional Post’s interview with one of the leading experts in Public Relations, Dr. Katerina Tsetsura, who was one of the key-speakers of the 4th Annual PR Summit Armenia

This spring French musician at Tumo center for the creative technologies Jean Geoffroy led a high-tech concert that combined the marimba and smartphones. Equipped with the SmartFaust music app, the students created some unique sounds to jive and sway to. The following day, Jean led a master class on the importance of interpretation in music. Event was organized by Grame, Lyon and the Muscari Association.

This June Armenia’s Syunik region hosted a sheep shearing festival, a unique attraction for tourists and a great opportunity for farmers from the nearby villages to sell their products. But that’s only a small part of the big program of Inclusive Sustainable Economic Development, which the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) undertakes in Armenia.

Armenia is located in one of the most seismically active regions of the world. One of Armenia’s most devastating tragedies occurred on December 7, 1988. An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale completely destroyed the town of Spitak, over 25,000 people were killed, and the consequences of the catastrophe are still being felt. Swiss experts were among the first who came to assist the survivors. This is how the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) began its operations in Armenia. For nearly three decades the SDC has been working on various disaster risk reduction projects, aiming at improving local and central preparedness systems.

Since 2014, Georgia’s Marneuli region has hosted the annual One Caucasus festival, in the village of Tserakvi. One Caucasus (then not under such name) started to develop as a concept in 2011 and in July and November of 2013 two research trips were conducted to find a suitable venue for the festival in Georgia. The festival line-up includes musicians and bands from the South Caucasus, Europe and further afield. Although music is a large part of the festival, One Caucasus is more than just a music festival. It hosts the ‘One Caucasus Town’ which is co-created by architects, international volunteers and local volunteers which offers a wide range of interdisciplinary activities to festival-goers. The festival is unique in that it brings people together from all three countries of the South Caucasus. Furthermore, beyond the region, it seeks to encourage active participants from all over the world. Rather than an exercise in peacebuilding, the festival offers a safe space for a meeting between people from all over the Caucasus without the pressure of expectations or outcomes. However, in terms of publicity, the festival is not as well known in Armenia than in neighbouring Georgia and Azerbaijan.

This June one of the most important cultural venues of Yerevan, Cafesjian Center for the Arts, hosted a presentation a one-of-its-kind publishing: “Yerevan Sketchbook”, a collection of sketches done by young artists Ararat Minasyan and Zack Demirtshyan.

This May Vienna hosted 9th annual European Newspaper Congress, supported by Japan Tobacco International. Regional Post was among over 500 media experts who discussed the most important media related topics.

Summer in Armenia started with wine and jazz. The historical meeting of the two national treasures took place in ArmAs Estate: in the village of Nor Yedesia, thirty minutes from Yerevan, among vine yards of the company that already became one of the leaders of Armenian winemaking.