On December 8, 2020, the RA Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan participated in the first meeting of the platform of the National Working Group on Green (Organic) Agriculture in Armenia.

The purpose of the platform is to provide assistance and relevant consultancy to the RA Ministry of Economy on elaboration and amendment of the national policy and legislative framework in the given field, thereby facilitating the formation of a favorable environment for development of green (organic) agriculture in Armenia within the framework of the EU-funded “EU-Green Agriculture Initiative in Armenia (EU-GAIA).

For this purpose, the identification and prioritization of the issues of the state policy, regulatory and legislative issues will be carried out, which need improvement, harmonization, amendment, as well as need to be brought into compliance with international policies and regulations.

"One of my working approaches is to create systems that, regardless of the human factor, will work to facilitate the development of agriculture in Armenia. Within the framework of the “EU-Green Agriculture Initiative in Armenia”, we tried to implement this initiative by joining our efforts. I am confident that with the same efforts we will all contribute to establishing this platform as an opportunity for information, knowledge, research, as well as for realization of all discussions and proposed programs", said the Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan.

The platform of the National Working Group will include representatives of the relevant departments of the agricultural sector of the RA Ministry of Economy, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), and the EU-GAIA Program of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Armenia, as well as representatives of the Agricultural Alliance of Armenia. Other experts may also be invited to special thematic discussions. The working group will exchange information and organize discussions on developments related to the green agriculture policy and legislative framework in the South Caucasus and EU, as well as on international best practices.

During the meeting, Arman Khojoyan and the EU-GAIA Program Manager Pascal Bokkers signed a Memorandum of association on elaboration and improvement of the national policy and legislative framework in the field of agriculture within the framework of the EU-GAIA program.