On February 5, 2021, an event took place in Yerevan under the title “Food security in Armenia: politics through years, market functionality, and supply chains”. The event was attended by the RA Deputy Ministers of Economy Arman Khojoyan and Avag Avanesyan, the Chairman of the Republican Union of Employers of Armenia Gagik Makaryan, the Deputy Director of the UN World Food Program in Armenia Nanna Skau, representatives of the Ministry of Economy, other state authorities, and international organizations.

Welcoming the participants of the event, Arman Khojoyan noted that provision of food to the population is one of the most urgent challenges of the 21st century. According to him, though the global food security index is not calculated for Armenia, yet the Ministry of Economy is making respective calculations to determine the level of food security in Armenia. Arman Khojoyan noted with satisfaction that according to the latest calculations, Armenia improved its position proceeding from the 76th to the 48th place.

“Currently, the RA Government is taking measures aimed at diversification of markets for import and export, replenishment of the state food reserves and the variety of essential food items and increase of volumes thereof, which will allow to provide the population with essential goods in case of emergencies or sharp price fluctuations”, he said.

Arman Khojoyan expressed hope that at the effect of agreements reached during the discussion, greater efforts will be focused on identification of food security issues, the outline of measures aimed at economic development, and analysis, management, and forecast of situations in the field of security provision.

“Today, more than ever, is the time to withstand the challenges facing the world, now is the time to agree on joint answers to these complex challenges and comprehensively use the full potential”, Arman Khojoyan said.

During the event, the RA Deputy Minister of Economy Avag Avanesyan delivered a speech titled “Food security as a cornerstone of economic integration: an alternative model of economic development in Armenia”. Gevorg Ghazaryan, the Head of the Food Security and Agro-Processing Development Department of the RA Ministry of Economy, presented on easy and difficult challenges of food security development in Armenia, and Ira Panosyan, the Head of the Agricultural Programs Elaboration, Resource Use and Cooperative Development Department of the RA Ministry of Economy, spoke about the current, future, and necessary interventions of policy-making in the field of food security development in Armenia.