Regional Post sat down with the Executive Director of Apricot Capital to discuss how the company makes the investment market more accessible while prioritizing social impact.
Interview : Margarit Mirzoyan Photo : Apricot Capital
Mr. Gevorgyan, In recent years, Armenia has seen significant growth in both the number and activity of investment companies. Apricot Capital has quickly established itself as one of the sector’s leading firms. What factors contributed to this, and what services does your company offer?
— Recently Armenians and our neighbor countries are becoming increasingly interested in investments, with more people wanting to explore securities. At Apricot Capital, we want to provide them with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed investment decisions at the most optimal cost. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to build their financial future and grow their wealth through financial instruments. That’s why we do our best to offer competitive commissions, allowing individuals and companies in Armenia and abroad to access global markets and invest in a wide range of investment instruments like stocks, ETFs, bonds, currencies, futures, options, structured products, and more. We also made it easy for people to start investing through us by removing the minimum deposit requirement, creating an online account opening option directly from our website, and offering a user-friendly mobile app for investing on the go. We also started the Apricot Academy initiative, which is a core part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment. The Academy provides free online resources, including articles, podcasts, and an investor’s glossary, covering everything from basic investment concepts to advanced concepts. Additionally, we have a 14-day demo account where aspiring investors can gain practical experience without risking real capital. I’m happy to state that thanks to our professional team and partnerships, we are now an established player in the sector with a solid client base, and in the process of international expansion.
You seem quite committed to investor education. How does this translate into practice?
— Yes, indeed. We’re particularly excited to announce an upcoming collaboration with Newmag—the publication of an Armenian translation of an international bestseller on financial literacy. This will provide the public with an invaluable resource. We also partner with major employers to conduct investment literacy training for their staff. This commitment to education also shapes our internal culture. We encourage continuous learning and development within the team regularly enabling our team to participate in international conferences to stay up to date on the latest trends and best practices. This allows us to bring world-class investment expertise to the Armenian market.
You mentioned Apricot Academy, how else does Apricot Capital engage in corporate social responsibility?
— We’re proud to be the primary donor for the “AREV – EREKHANER” Children’s Health and Development Center NGO, which organizes educational and recreational programs for children and youth with Down syndrome. Other initiatives are carried out through the Amaryan Charitable Foundation, co-established by our founder, Vardan Amaryan. For example, in 2024 the foundation supported the creation of free educational videos on classical music in partnership with the Primavera Foundation Educational Academy, the Casekey 2024 student competition’s Academy program, and contributed to the creation of a Senior Center program in Goris for lonely elderly people. We believe in giving back to the community and supporting important causes.
We’re optimistic about the future of investment culture in Armenia and believe that the growing interest in investments will have a positive impact on Armenia’s economic development.
Looking ahead, what are your key priorities for Apricot Capital?
— Armenia is experiencing a significant increase in what we call retail investors—individual investors who are seeking to diversify their savings along with traditional bank deposits. They are increasingly drawn to instruments like stocks, which offer higher potential returns, and government bonds, which provide tax advantages. Of course, these instruments, along with higher return potential, also carry inherent risks. For this segment, our priority is to provide them with clear and digestible information, enabling them to explore investments responsibly. At the same time, we continue attracting high-net-worth individuals and companies, who are more interested in more complex instruments like structured notes and investment funds. We’re optimistic about the future of investment culture in Armenia and believe that the growing interest in investments will have a positive impact on Armenia’s economic development.
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