Armenia, a country landlocked within its mountainous borders, faces unique challenges in its quest for economic development. Unlike its resource-rich neighbors, Armenia is relatively scarce in natural resources, and its lack of seaports hinders its ability to participate fully in global trade. Despite these limitations, Armenia has demonstrated remarkable
resilience and resourcefulness in its pursuit of growth.
Mother Armenia statue
Years ago, the country faced a critical decision: give up to a slow demise or
fight for its survival. The first path would lead to a gradual decline, similar to many civilizations in history. However, the more challenging choice, fighting for survival, would require Armenia to
connect and communicate with the rest of the world by all possible means. Keeping this in mind, key questions emerge:
What routes can Armenia develop to connect with other nations?
What strategic advantages can the country leverage to secure its position on the global stage?
EMBRACING DIGITAL DIPLOMACY
Digital diplomacy is the practice of utilizing digital technologies and platforms to enhance international relations, engage with global audiences, and shape foreign policy. It involves leveraging the
power of entrepreneurship and other digital tools to foster cross-border understanding, promote cooperation, and address global challenges. The emergence of Picsart, Armenia’s first unicorn, in 2021, marked a pivotal moment in the country’s tech scene, opening
doors to
global connectivity and leading a vibrant startup ecosystem. Since then, the Armenian tech landscape has witnessed a surge in activity, with investors and entrepreneurs joining forces to launch many innovative ventures.
Riding the wave of Picsart’s success, several promising Armenian startups are currently poised to
join the unicorn club. Among these are Service Titans, a cloud-based field service management platform, Podcastle, a podcast hosting and monetization platform, and Krisp, an AI-powered noise cancellation solution.
Fastbank
Needless to say that there are many other industries and infrastructure that develop along with the tech sector as it seeks the professional connectivity with human capital, scientific and technological knowledge and new set of skills, especially in the ever-evolving world of communications. Our partner for this issue of Life in Armenia, Deem Communications has been a pillar for the startup community since its inception. In the early years when the concept of making Armenia a tech hub and generating startups through initiatives like the
StartUp Cup in 2016, or the CEED initiatives of securing angel
investors, DeeM played an integral role either
through mentorship and coaching to promoting and building capacity of the industry.
Digitec
This being said, the remarkable growth has not gone unnoticed, with influential platforms like Crunchbase taking interest in Armenia’s thriving tech scene. In a recent report, Crunchbase highlighted that Armenia has a small but growing tech ecosystem, with a
focus on deep-tech. The report mentioned how Armenia’s tech sector is being fueled by a number of factors, including a strong education system, a supportive government, and a
large diaspora of Armenians who are working in the tech industry around the world.
Armenia has also been active in hosting a variety of local and international events for several years now, with a focus on technology. These events help to promote the country as a center for innovation and entrepreneurship on a
global stage.
One main example is
DigiTec, an annual technology event held in Yerevan, organized by the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE). It is the largest tech event in the region and one of the most important gatherings of
the Armenian tech community. The event brings together local and international companies, startups, investors, and experts to showcase the latest innovations in technology. DeeM, a member of the UATE, has supported many companies to position their brands and present their products and services at this event. Namely Monitis,
Byblos Bank and other well established global brands in Armenia. In addition to the exhibition, DigiTec also features a number of other events, including conferences, workshops, and hackathons.
The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT2019) was another example of international events held in Armenia. It served as a pivotal platform for exploring the transformative power of information and communication technologies (ICT) in shaping a resilient and thriving future in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event, themed
“Thriving in a Post-Covid World,” brought together
over 2,000 delegates from 70 countries, along with a vast virtual audience, to engage in thought-provoking discussions,build meaningful connections, and witness the latest advancements shaping the digital landscape.
Inspired by the rapid growth and the growing pains of the tech sector, DeeM strategically organized an international event last fall entitled
Generation N: Decoding Communications to help bridge the gap between the tech sector and
communications.
All these efforts have shown the world a different side of Armenia, one that is determined to achieve success no matter
what the obstacles. It has made Armenia a place where venture capitalists, experienced professionals, and international investment funds want to be. Simply put, it has built the virtual route to put Armenia on the map in today’s world.
ARMENIA’S GLOBAL CITIZENS
The creation of this virtual route involves considering the broader identity of Armenia. Instead of viewing itself as a small country with a population of nearly 3 million, Armenia has begun to embrace its global diaspora of around 8 million people, aiming to become a stronger nation of almost 11 million Armenians working together to connect their homeland with their adopted homes around the world. While many diasporan Armenians have previously relocated to Armenia to establish businesses and contribute to the country’s development, there has been a significant increase in the number of businesses being opened in Armenia in recent years.
Armenia
Armenia
ABOVE AND BEYOND
Armenia’s position between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East has contributed to its economic growth in recent years. The country has established new airline partnerships, expanded its network of air routes, and attracted new tourism destinations. These efforts have created new employment opportunities and attracted foreign investment. To be more specific, Armenia has established partnerships with several airlines, including Air Arabia, Gulf Air, and Etihad Airways. These partnerships have resulted in the opening of new skyways to Armenia, making it easier for tourists and business travelers to reach the country. Additionally, the country now has direct flights to over 50 destinations in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Additionally, Armenia has attracted new tourism destinations from the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These countries have introduced visa-free travel for their citizens, making it easier for them to visit Armenia. As a result of these efforts, Armenia’s tourism industry has grown significantly in recent years. In 2023, Armenia welcomed over 2 million tourists.
Whether it’s the virtual route established by the startup ecosystem and the evolving technology industry or the skyways established by airline collaborations and new tourist destinations, Armenia seems to have found a way to extend its reach beyond its mountains without compromising its cultural identity. The decision to embrace globalization was made at a national level several years ago, and in a few years’ time, Armenia is poised to become a major player in the region.
If you’re considering relocating to Armenia, pack your bags as early as possible because the country is still a place where you can make a significant impact and witness the fruits of your labor with your own eyes.
Zvartnots international airport