Interregional cooperation is a highly demanded format of cooperation between Armenia and Russia. This was stated by the speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia, Valentina Matvienko, during the tenth Armenian-Russian Interregional Forum being held in Yerevan Friday.

Matvienko expressed confidence that within the framework of this forum, the two parties will be able to find specific mechanisms for the realization of potential and opportunities.

She noted that today more than 70 administrative subjects of Russia maintain trade and economic ties with the provinces of Armenia, and currently more than 20 regions of Russia have already signed interregional agreements on trade and economic, scientific, technical, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation with their Armenian counterparts.

Matvienko explained that the most active participants from the Russian side are the Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Rostov, Nizhny Novgorod, and Volgograd regions, Tatarstan, and some other administrative subjects.

“We need to establish cooperation not only between large companies, but we also know how important small and medium-sized businesses are for the economies of our countries. The intergovernmental program for the development of interregional cooperation for 2022-2027 enables a systematic approach to the implementation of joint projects. It is the main mechanism for implementing interregional cooperation between Russia and Armenia,” Matvienko added.

She emphasized that at the moment 15 events of this program have already been completed, 40 others are in the implementation phase, and it is necessary to once again analyze the relevance of the projects announced in the program, and if necessary, refine the joint strategy for their further implementation.

“Life is developing very quickly, actively. New challenges are emerging, including in the economic and financial spheres, and we must be very mobile,” noted the speaker of the Federation Council of Russia.

She reminded that every year more than a million Russian citizens visit Armenia for tourism and other purposes.

“The number of Armenian residents visiting various tourist destinations in Russia is also growing. This sector is also very important for the strengthening of friendship, trust, and mutual understanding between our peoples. We [i.e. Russia] are ready to accept medical tourism, we perform unique surgeries for children and adults,” Valentina Matvienko concluded.