Enterprise Development and Market Competitiveness Project

On September 30th, the USAID-funded Enterprise Development and Market Competitiveness Project came to an end. After three-years of rigorous and comprehensive work, EDMC is happy to end on a high-note underscored by the many successful programs we have implemented with our many partners. We thank all ministries, municipalities, companies, associations, foundations, enterprises, NGOs, contractors and donors who have helped make such positive impacts on the Republic of Armenia's key private sectors and overall economy.

EDMC Closing | USAID | Enterprise Development & Market Competitiveness Project

USAID EDMC is proud of project partner Arpimed LLC in becoming Armenia's 2nd Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certified Pharmaceutical company!

Strengthening Local Manufacturing Capacity | USAID | Enterprise Development & Market... “As a pharmacist, I am thrilled to learn about the improvements of the domestic pharmaceutical production and products. This gives me confidence in offering Armenian medicine to my customers” said Margarita Meliqyan from Yerevan #1 pharmacy. On July 31st, 2014, Arpimed LLC became the second Armenian…

Looking for ways to enjoy the last few weeks of Summer? Might we suggest a visit to one of our beneficiaries, who has just opened a fully-operational campsite in Vayots Dzor, near the M10 and Yerevan Highway intersection.

Picturesque and easy to get to, the campsite provides full facilities to guests, including running water, bathrooms, showers, eating areas and the tents themselves. Also onsite is a new artificial pond stocked with trout which guests can fish and cook themselves!

The owner, Armen Sargsyan, is one of 18 entrepreneurs who were approved for loans due to the USAID EDMC Access to Finance grants. For more information, call him at 093 001 606

Thanks to everyone who came out to Dilijan last Saturday! We had a fun-filled day with great displays, presentations, and music! Here are some of our favorite moments!

On August 16, 2014, "Media Onyx" will hold the Annual Carpet Weaving and Decorative Artwork Festival within the city of Dilijan in the Tavush province. This festival is sponsored by the Ministry of Economy of the RA, the Governor of Tavush, the Mayor of Dilijan, and the USAID EDMC project.

The festival aims to target the tourists visiting Armenia and pull them into more remote regions, wherein interesting events introduce the individual to Armenia's traditions, ancient cuisine and deep-rooted culture. The festival will include artisans from around the country who have mastered the art of carpet weaving, while handicrafts from Gyumri will be showcased to include pottery, knit products, metalsmithing, woodwork, and ceramics. With the Syrian war having brought in Syrian-Armenian refugees, the festival will also host these artisans to promote and encourage their handicrafts, while providing a new venue for sales and networking.

Busses will be waiting in the Republic Square at 9 am to drive participants and tourists alike to Dilijan. The event is set to open at 13:00, with the song and dance scheduled to begin at 14:00. Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind event!

EDMC's second year brought in spectacular grantees who combined 2 or more of the project's target sectors in order to efficiently increase market competitiveness and promote enterprise development. Of these, eAgro most definitely makes a clear statement and brings modern methods to an old profession by combining the world of agriculture with the world of technology.

E-agro is a web-based marketplace for agricultural commodities and services, available both online (www.eagro.am) and via mobile phone. It is aimed at promoting economic development and increasing the competitiveness of rural entrepreneurs and food-processing SMEs through creating new marketing opportunities, providing tools for smart farming and offering cost-optimization mechanisms.

The cornerstone of the E-agro project is the eagro.am portal, which was launched in June 2013 by the Microsoft Innovation Center Armenia with the support of the Government of Armenia. From October 2013 – March 2014, with the support of the USAID Enterprise Development and Market Competitiveness project, a number of critical developments will be introduced in the portal for it to become a comprehensive farming, sales, and marketing tool for farmers and agro-processing companies in Armenia. The EDMC grant will assist with the final stages of programming, testing and overall set-up of this new tool and all of its services.

Presented here are small examples of what such systems can accomplish for a simple village farmer who makes a business out of the land he tills all day.

We are getting ready for Goris' first Mulberry Festival this weekend; are you?!

Goris Mulberry Festival In this page you can find everything about Syunik region, particularly about Goris and about Mulberry Festival which will be held in Goris on 23 August

On Wednesday, July 16, Armenia's 4th Annual "Uduli" Dolma Festival took place within the Sardarapat memorial complex, wherein over 70 types of the traditional food staple were available for guests to sample, as a jury consisting of the Head of Javakhk Compatriot Union` Shirak Torosyan and Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia` Leyla Saribekyan, among multiple others, were given the task to decide this year's best flavor, appearance, and idea. Organized by the "Armenian Cookery Traditions Development and Protection" NGO, the festival was also partially funded by EDMC. The competition for the longest dolma, as well as that for the fastest to eat it all, took place as onlookers cheered and enjoyed their tasty fares, each prepared with original recipes. Definitely a great evening for dolma overs and guests alike!

Update: The Goris Toot Festival will now be on July 26th! See you all there!

A wonderful day, full of sunshine and good spirit, greeted the young and the old, locals and foreigners, on Saturday June 28, 2014. The Taraz Fest - Traditional Costumes of Armenia festival took place in Old Arpeni, where arts and crafts were put on display by vendors from the region as a means of promoting the beautiful ancient world of Armenia, particularly its mesmerizing traditional dress. Delicious food accompanied this lavish presentation alongside lively music, a bounce house for kids, authentic wagon rides, as well as a local photographer, Photo Atelier Marashlyan Retro, to capture the beauty of the moment through offering those interested with photographs while in traditional Armenian attire.

Did you know? A woman wore a cloth belt with her and her husband's initials, as well as their wedding date embroidered on, helping society distinguish the wives from the available girls in Gyumri (former Alexandrapol).

Need some ideas for the weekend? Join us and others at the Taraz Fest in Arpeni Village!!

Taraz Fest - Festival of Traditional Armenian Attire in Old Arpeni | EDMC June 28, 2014 | 11:00Old Arpeni VillageWith the support of USAID's EDMC Project, on June 28, 2014, the Homeland Development Initiative Foundation will present traditional Armenian attire and accessories to local and international populations alike, in the form of a festival. Rural festivals are know…