Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the High Level Segment of the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday. Both sides reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries and expressed satisfaction at their steady growth.
Recalling the historical linkages going back to centuries between India and Armenia, both Prime Ministers highly valued the goodwill existing between the peoples of the two countries which provides a solid basis for their bilateral cooperation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Prime Minister Pashinyan for Armenia’s consistent support for India’s candidature for the permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council.
Stressing on the need to considerably enhance the volume of bilateral trade and investment, Prime Minister expressed interest of Indian companies to explore opportunities in IT, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, tourism and other sectors of Armenia. Prime Minister sought Armenia’s support for concluding an expeditious trading arrangement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU) of which Armenia is a member. India and the EaEu are set to start negotiations in this regard soon.
Prime Minister offered to strengthen India’s development partnership with Armenia as per interest and needs of Armenia. A large number of Armenian candidates benefit from training programmes conducted by India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.
Prime Minister Pashinyan briefed Prime Minister on the new inititatives of openness of his government and in that context invited Indian investments in Armenia. Referring to popularity of Indian culture, films, music and Yoga, Prime Minister Pashinyan called for greater cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.
