Armenia’s next decade will be defined by how ambitiously and how strategically we trade with the world. Here’s a clear, sector-by-sector map of where global demand meets Armenian capability and how the World Trade Center Yerevan can help you turn opportunity into deals.

ARMENIA'S EXPORT STRATEGY 2025–2030: OBJECTIVES AND DIRECTIONS

Approved in July 2025, the Strategic Plan for Promoting Exports of the Republic of Armenia (2025-2030) is unambiguous about the horizon: total exports reaching $16.9 billion by 2030, with services rising to $10.3 billion and goods to $6.6 billion. A structural pivot toward higher-value services and higher-complexity products.

This ambition is grounded in urgency, as the risk is clear: in 2023, Russia accounted for around 40.6% of Armenia’s goods exports, pushing the export-market Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) concentration to 2463 (up from 1330 in 2019). The Strategy raises the issue concretely and answers with disciplined diversification, supported by five pillars:

  • A more competitive trade environment.
  • Stronger infrastructure and logistics.
  • Upgraded exporter capabilities.
  • Broader markets and destinations.
  • Targeted promotion and finance. 

The vision is very certain: export-led growth that advances productivity, broadens new markets and deepens capabilities across the economy and trade. 

This is the context for your sector, whether you bottle heritage brandy, machine precision components, code enterprise software, or knit technical apparel. Below, you’ll find one comprehensive, cross-sector playbook, a take on Armenia’s readiness, where to look, what to upgrade, and how the World Trade Center Yerevan (WTC Yerevan) helps, followed by quick, high-energy spotlights for the priority sectors.

ARMENIA'S EXPORT READINESS: MOMENTUM MEETS STRUCTURE

  • Momentum with intent. Armenia has steadily liberalised its economy and embraced a more trade-oriented model. Real GDP surges year over year driven in large part by inflows of foreign exchange, returning diaspora capital and a boom in high-tech services. The services sector, in particular, is accelerating. In the first half of 2025 it expanded by 9.8 % compared to the same period in 2024, with information and communication up around 19 %. With this underpinning, Armenia’s new export Strategy translates dynamism into defined targets, rather than leaving growth to chance.
  • A smarter map. The Strategy goes beyond simply increasing volume: it identifies 25 priority product groups (from premium beverages, polymers and aluminium foil to precision instruments) and 4 key services categories (tourism; ICT & information services; financial & insurance services; transport). Each of these is paired with top target export markets, and the growth framework draws on Ansoff’s matrix, addressing market penetration, market development, product development and diversification, so that growth isn’t just larger but also more durable and resilient. This means Armenian firms can step systematically into higher-value niches rather than chase low-margin volume alone.
  • Reform to ensure documents turn into implementation. The Strategy mandates the formation of an Export Advisory Group and an Export Council, both high-level bodies intended to drive coordination between public institutions and private exporters. These governance reforms are concrete steps to improve trade facilitation and export freedom metrics, including various initiatives to simplify declarations and reduce border-frictions. The result is a signal that exports are not simply encouraged, but enabled via fewer procedural barriers, clearer regulation, and faster turnover from enquiry to shipment.

What this means for you: Armenia is not just aiming to ship more. The country is building systems that make premium deals repeatable, wherever you stand on the value chain. 

WHERE ARMENIAN EXPORTERS SHOULD LOOK: PRIORITY MARKET CLUSTERS

Instead of disconnected lists, think in market clusters where Armenian capabilities and the Strategy’s top markets shortlists overlap:

  1. EU, EFTA. Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, Poland: rigorous standards, strong ecosystems and very concrete demands. This is where documentation, traceability and sustainability narratives convert into long term relationships.
  2. Gulf markets. UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia: receptive to jewelry and gems, selected cosmetics, tobacco products, knowledge-intensive services. Fast-moving buyers and modern distribution make the Gulf markets a pragmatic second engine for expansion and growth, not just a showcase market.
  3. U.S., UK & Israel. Ideal for ICT & data services, where reliability, IP discipline and after-sales support matter as much as price. The Strategy repeatedly signals the U.S. and Israel for medtech and optics, aligning with Armenia’s well known engineering depth.
  4. Regional scale (Eurasian Economic Union & neighbors). Keep anchor volumes where you already win, Eurasian Economic Union partners and regional buyers while preparing entries into higher-value markets to reduce concentration risk. The goal is to establish a polarized portfolio that balances throughput with premium-market learning.

WHAT ARMENIAN COMPANIES NEED TO UPGRADE

No matter the sector, the same capability will ensure the conversion of meetings into deals:

  • Standards as the main sales tool. For food & beverage, apparel and medtech treat all regulatory and certification standards (SPS, ISO, REACH, FDA, CE) used for product safety, quality and compliance in international trade and manufacturing not as checkboxes but as trust-signals that command price and open doors. The Strategy highlights the need to align labeling, packaging and conformity assessment with destination-market rules. Build this into product development stage and not after marketing and sales.
  • Documentation, traceability. Especially in jewelry and gems, metals and alloys, pharma and cosmeceuticals, packaging so to elevate chain-of-custody, traceability and responsible-sourcing disclosures. The Strategy calls for better oversight, unique identifiers, QR codes and risk-based controls for sensitive goods.
  • Logistics with emergency-ready Strategy. Landlocked geography, seasonal disruptions at key crossings and limited air-cargo frequency demand multi-modal planning, calendar-aware routing and reserve of stock for first orders. Highlight reliability in your pitch and your buyer will notice and return.
  • Finance, risk management instruments. Trade finance, export insurance and careful counterparty due diligence shorten cycle time and de-risk expansion, especially for first-time exporters and SMEs. The Strategy elevates finance and risks as a core point, with reforms to make instruments more usable and helpful.
  • Data-driven market entry. The plan uses Ansoff’s matrix to distinguish market penetration and development from diversification because how you sell in Munich is not how you sell in Dubai.

HOW WORLD TRADE CENTER YEREVAN HELPS ARMENIAN COMPANIES GO GLOBAL?

WTC Yerevan is ready to turn national Strategy into private-sector outcomes. Through the World Trade Centers Association network, 300+ locations across 100 countries, connecting 1 million affiliated companies, we open credible doorways for Armenian businesses in the markets that matter.

Here’s the unified service stack we apply across sectors:

  • Networking with purpose. Curated events and industry-specific gatherings, to meet decisionmakers and business peers. (See our Business Hub offer and calendar.) 
  • Business matchmakings. Tailored introductions to buyers, distributors and suppliers across the WTC network, structured around your product profiles and goals. (Packages include annual allocations of B2B matchmakings and WTC introductions).
  • Trade missions (inward & outward). Sector-specific and multi-sector delegations to priority markets, synchronized with WTC events, where we prioritize revenue-generating outcomes. 
  • Trade intelligence & capability building. Global Expansion Activation Program and Deep Dive workshops on international finance, tax & grants, ESG, risk, ISO, SPS, labeling and packaging, and trade procedures are a direct answer to gaps identified in the national Strategy and our alignment plan. (Packages include discounted offers for members).
  • Collective influence & PPP. As a public private partnership project, WTC Yerevan is a formal channel to elevate exporter pain points and shape public–private fixes, from logistics bottlenecks to standards, so systemic problems get raised, noticed and solved.
  • Follow-up and support. Post-meeting support and partnership handholding so momentum doesn’t stall after the first contact.

Our alignment with the government Strategy is practical: we propose sharing our needs-assessment toolkit with counterparts, implementing trade services and activating MOUs through the WTCA network so company-level aligns with the state-level cooperation.

PRIORITY SECTORS AND GLOBAL TRADE OPPORTUNITIES

Fast fact: The Strategy's table of 25 priority product groups with top-three markets is a practical shortlist. Use it to benchmark your pipeline and ask yourself, “Do my top five prospects line up with these markets?”. Then fill the gaps with WTC Yerevan services. Below, the priority arenas in one glance pass. Use them to test your focus, build targeted strategies and act on full purpose.

Premium beverages and fine foods. Your heritage is your competitive advantage, supported by modern standards and labelling discipline. Fast lanes include Hong Kong, UAE, and the U.S. for premium spirits; Germany and again the U.S. for fermented drinks. Make efforts to establish new trade partnerships that can scale and do not forget about a catchy storytelling, directed to your targeted consumer segment.

Jewelry, diamonds, precious metals. Design excellence plus documentation. Prioritize Switzerland, UAE, U.S., France, where compliance and finish drive margin. Digitize certificates, build traceable supply chains and engage buyers through WTC luxury hubs. 

Advanced polymers. For polymer profiles, films and plastic construction items, your edge is quality, sustainability and reliability. Co-develop with Germany, Ireland, UK, Switzerland, Austria to meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) expectations and recycled-content targets. Make ISO and other standards visible and tangible.

Technical apparel, knitwear. Compete on agility, not just cost. Sportswear, high-performance hosiery and women’s outerwear can win in Switzerland, Germany, Israel with transparent supply chains and quick turns. Digital sampling and standards compliance are must-haves.

Precision instruments, medtech. High-value, low-weight goods, perfect for air freight and recurring B2B supply. Aim for U.S., Germany, Israel, pair prototyping with clinical or lab validation and map regulatory pathways at early stages. Build IP discipline into contracts. 

Metals, alloys, foils. EU manufacturers want compliant and reliable supply. Differentiate your offer with ESG reporting, energy efficiency and sustainability approaches to make it in full compliance with the EU decarbonization and sustainability standards. Place strategic emphasis on markets like Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and U.S. as consistent trading partners. 

Pharmaceuticals, cosmetic products. Narrow, high-credibility product lines. The Strategy flags Germany, Kuwait and broader MENA region countries for generics contingent on compliance and distributor quality.

ICT and knowledge services. Armenia’s information and communication technologies are real and full of potential. The fastest growth since 2020 has come from ICT, with financial and insurance services gaining pace from 2022. Package a secure, specialized and distinctive offer for Western Europe, North America and the Gulf countries. Make compliance (General Data Protection Regulations, Information Security Management System) and continuity part of the core of your sales story, not the appendix.

The government Strategy will back you with:

  • A planned Export Council and Advisory Group to coordinate across public and private sectors;
  • Commitments to raise trade facilitation effectiveness and the trade freedom index by 2030;
  • Upgraded exporter capabilities with workshops and trade education;
  • Stronger quality infrastructure (labs, SPS, technical controls, conformity assessment) to smooth market entry and reduce barriers;
  • Practical responses to logistics constraints (multi-modal routes, air-cargo utilization and cross-border fixes).

WTC Yerevan will complement this by convening public–private working sessions, hosting signature conversations on trade, tech, economic development, regional opportunities and channeling the WTCA network to connect buyers, investors and experts with Yerevan and Armenian companies to the world. 

YOUR 12-MONTH ACTION PLAN FROM WTC YEREVAN

  • Pick two markets: one scale (regional, EAEU) to strengthen volumes in known regional markets and one value entries (EU, Gulf, U.S.) where high standards unlock premium pricing and low risks. Draft a shortlist of 10 named buyers per market. Reach out to WTC Yerevan for B2B introduction and matchmakings.
  • Close the standards gap: run a readiness audit for all strategic standards (SPS, ISO, REACH, GMP, GDPR, ISMS, etc.). Fix the top three issues within six months. Sign up for WTC Yerevan’s Global Expansion Activation Program & Deep Dive practical workshops to enhance capabilities at this stage. 
  • Build a real pipeline: join one WTC Yerevan trade mission, schedule B2B matchmakings and set a 12-week follow-up with each prospect. WTC Yerevan’s follow-up and support services will keep deals moving. 
  • Measure diversification: set a KPI for revenue share from new markets and review quarterly. 

THE WTC YEREVAN ETHOS: STARTS HERE. GOES GLOBAL!

At World Trade Center Yerevan, our ethos matches Armenia’s moment: visionary, ambitious and future-focused, while remaining clear, grounded and realistic. Why? Simply because:

  • Scale of access: We are part of the WTCA network (300+ cities, 100 countries, 1 million affiliated companies), we combine world-class reach with personal introductions and sustained support. This is Armenian approach applied to global network.
  • Programs built for outcomes: Networking that translates to matchmakings; trade missions with revenue goals; trade intelligence, Global Expansion Activation Program, Deep Dive workshops to fix capability gaps; Local events, conferences and exhibitions that turn first meetings into first shipments.
  • Aligned with policy, focused on you. Our internal Strategy alignment reflects the state’s plan: MOUs through the WTCA toolkit, needs assessment data and a training agenda centered on compliance, risks mitigation, safety, labeling and packaging, trade and finance, taxes and procedures. We will stay close to the new Export Council and incubator concepts as they launch, so our members feel the benefit first.

IGNITING THE NEW ERA!

Armenia’s export story is changing, from concentration to confidence, from commodity to capability, from one-time orders to long-term partnerships. At the WTCY we stand at the intersection of vision and execution. We want to translate Armenia’s export potential into measurable performance, opening credible international doors, building the competencies that sustain competitiveness and ensuring that every Armenian enterprise which is ready to expand abroad will do so with precision, preparedness, and purpose. If you’re ready to step from potential to plan, we are ready to walk the internationalization journey with you. Welcome to the World Trade Center Yerevan, where local excellence meets global opportunities.

1 The Ansoff Matrix is defined as a pivotal tool in enterprise growth planning that strategically identifies pathways for expansion. This 2 by 2 matrix evaluates existing and new products against existing and new markets, yielding four growth strategies: market penetration, market development, and product development/diversification
2 The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) measures the size of companies relative to the size of the industry they're in (or size of the export share of country A relative to the size of gross exports from country B). It calculates the amount of competitiveness by squaring the market share of each firm competing within a market and then summing the resulting numbers. It can range from close to zero to 10,000 with lower values indicating a less concentrated market.”

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