Armenian Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan received a delegation led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, chairman of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) and of the Committee of the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development.

At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Hovhannisyan thanked the prince for the attention shown to Armenia within the framework of the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development and for considering cooperation opportunities.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the development of education, the promotion of innovative and open educational programs, as well as the opportunities for microfinance and support for small and medium-sized enterprises in Armenia.

Also, Hovhannisyan presented the infrastructure projects being implemented in Armenia and the Armenian government’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, emphasizing the importance of improving regional connectivity and expanding economic cooperation. The development of human capital, ensuring economic inclusion, and the prospects for implementing joint initiatives were also discussed.

During the meeting, the idea that development and peace are interrelated was emphasized, and that investments in people and international cooperation can contribute to the formation of the necessary conditions for lasting peace.

In this context, the following message was emphasized: “Development cannot wait until peace is established in the world. Through cooperation and investments in people, we can create the conditions for lasting peace. Our circumstances may change, but our responsibility does not change.”