At the invitation of the Armenian authorities and on the initiative of David Weytsman and Anna Hovsepyan, Georges-Louis Bouchez paid a working visit to Armenia on 5 October. At the heart of the discussions were growth, closer ties with the European Union and opportunities for cooperation between our two countries.
The MR President was accompanied by David Weytsman, chairman of the MR Federation of Brussels, and Anna Hovsepyan, MR alderwoman in Jette, of Armenian origin. The liberals met the President of the Republic, Vahagn Khachaturyan, the Speaker of the National Assembly and Armenian parliamentarians.
Growth as an engine of prosperity
The meeting with the President of the Republic allowed for a comparison of Belgium's and Armenia's trajectories. Two countries of comparable size, but with differing economic dynamics: Armenia recorded average growth of 7.2% between 2020 and 2025 and is expected to exceed 5% again in 2026.
This dynamic fuelled discussions on ways to boost prosperity and fund public policy. The Armenian President welcomed the position of our President, Georges-Louis Bouchez, in favour of no new taxes. A shared conviction emerged: developing economic activity increases state revenue without raising the tax burden.
These issues were also raised with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ruben Rubinyan. Supporting entrepreneurship, encouraging investment and fostering job creation are all levers for strengthening public finances and improving living conditions.
A European perspective
Armenia's rapprochement with the European Union and the prospect of possible accession were also raised by our President's various interlocutors. Georges-Louis Bouchez stressed that a new enlargement must be preceded by a review of European governance. Before welcoming new members, the Union must rethink how it works in order to preserve its ability to decide and act effectively.
The discussions also covered Armenia's strategic positioning. In a complex regional environment, diversifying its partnerships and its international openness are major challenges. This development also offers new prospects for relations with Belgium, Wallonia and Brussels.
Innovation and economic cooperation
Anna Hovsepyan, David Weytsman and Georges-Louis Bouchez visited the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, dedicated to digital and creative learning for young people. This Armenian model is now finding a concrete follow-up in Wallonia with the opening of the first Belgian centre in Liège, illustrating the potential of educational and technological cooperation.
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss opportunities for Belgian companies in medical technology, pharmaceuticals, digital technology, deeptech and high-value-added agri-food. Partnerships between innovative companies, research centres and investors can help strengthen economic relations that remain limited.
“Armenia is a country focused on innovation, education and Europe. In a complex regional context, it is choosing modernisation, economic openness and skills development. We want to encourage closer relations between our businesses, our universities, our young people and our institutions”, stresses Georges-Louis Bouchez.
The visit also included a stop at the Belgian embassy in Yerevan for talks with our Belgian ambassador Eric De Muynck, as well as a tribute at the Armenian Genocide Memorial, a moment of reflection in memory of the victims.
The Armenian press reports on this:
Meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly