Samvel Karapetyan: Quick solutions are possible despite harsh conditions

Businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan issued a message from his detention facility on Monday, outlining his vision for Armenia’s economic revival.

Karapetyan painted a bleak picture of life in Armenia’s regions, where able-bodied men spend their days idly playing backgammon instead of working, which, he claims, reflects the government’s failure to create opportunities. According to him, despair and disillusionment have left many Armenians without even the hope of a better future.

“The sole responsibility for the current situation lies with the Armenian authorities, who have failed to provide dignified opportunities for the people, have broken their faith in a prosperous future and driven them into despair,” he said.

“Despite these harshest conditions, we can quickly provide practical solutions to ensure the people’s wellbeing,” Karapetyan stressed.

He pointed to Armenia’s annual trade deficit of nearly $4 billion as clear evidence of untapped potential. He argued that the country must focus on building local industries and creating profitable investment opportunities especially in the regions to secure dignified jobs.

Karapetyan stressed that Armenia could attract major international investors to establish production facilities, while the state’s role should be to stimulate local businesses through targeted support programs, not to claim a share or attempt to seize control.

Agriculture, he said, requires real, on-the-ground reforms. Farmers should be able to sell their produce in a competitive environment that allows them to make a living and support their families. Moreover, Armenia’s agricultural output could serve as a strong foundation for developing the food-processing industry.

Karapetyan added that within just a few years, major foreign companies should be operating in Armenia, contributing not only to industrial growth but also to a qualitative leap in the country’s tourism sector.

“I am confident that these and a number of other economic programs will very quickly improve the quality of the people’s life. Emigration will stop and there will be dignified work for everyone. We will do it our way,” he concluded.