On April 16, the Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan and Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan met with Raimund Jehle, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Armenia.

Gevorg Papoyan thanked FAO for its effective cooperation related to the support in creating resilient and sustainable food system. He stressed that it was of great importance for the economy of Armenia. He also highlighted the importance to support further digitalization of the sector. He made specific reference to the importance of safeguarding the livelihoods of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh and welcomed FAO’s current work in this regard supporting refugees utilizing innovation and best practices from other countries that can be replicated in Armenia.

Jehle expressed his appreciation for productive collaboration between the Ministry and FAO. He reaffirmed the commitment of FAO in continuous cooperation with the Ministry of Economy in the field of food systems transformation and emphasized the importance of advancing the cooperation with the focus on FAO's "Four Betters": better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life for all.

Underscoring the pivotal role of agriculture in Armenia's economic development, Jehle elaborated, "Our joint efforts in shaping sector strategies exemplify our close cooperation. As the FAO, we are committed to support the Government of Armenia with implementing sectoral reforms, innovative projects, and capacity-building initiatives." He also made reference to the upcoming 34^th Session of the FAO European Regional Conference in Rome and invited the Minister to attend. 

The meeting covered a range of relevant topics, from the current state of agriculture in Armenia to strategies for enhancing forest resilience and pasture management in the face of climate change impacts. Discussions also revolved around expanding adaptation measures, advocating for sustainable land management practices and increasing access to agricultural land, as well as promoting green agriculture development in rural areas.