Narek Karapetyan: Entrepreneurs can shape the world more effectively than politicians

Narek Karapetyan, a board member of the Strong Armenia party and the head of its electoral list, has said entrepreneurs play a more effective role in changing the world than politicians.

In an interview with Shant TV on Monday, Karapetyan sought to dispel misconceptions about his background, saying many people assume he spent most of his life abroad.

“During meetings in different communities, people often think I lived in Russia or elsewhere,” he said. “In reality, I was born and raised in Tashir before moving to Yerevan. The only time I lived outside Armenia was while studying in England and Switzerland.”

Karapetyan said he previously served as the Armenian representative of the Tashir Group, where he focused on expanding the conglomerate’s industrial operations and achieved what he described as major success.

He added that business had always been a strong personal interest, shaped in part by his family’s emphasis on mathematics.

“Mathematics had a significant influence in our family,” he said. “My grandfather was a mathematics teacher, and our attitude towards the subject at home was very different.”

Karapetyan argued that the contribution of entrepreneurs is frequently overlooked in public discourse.

“I believe that, apart from politicians, it is entrepreneurs who change the world more effectively and productively,” he said. “Unfortunately, society often underestimates their role.”