This article is part of a partnership with OC Media. You can read the original in English here.
Armenia has exported a batch of flowers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan announced. This marks a step towards diversifying export markets as Russian restrictions continue to impact shipments of Armenian agricultural products.
The exact date of the first shipment remains unknown. Papoyan later clarified that throughout 2026, Armenia exported 204,500 flowers to the UAE, with 41,900 shipped in the last two months alone.
The latest shipment follows a July 16 meeting between Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan and a business delegation from the UAE. Representatives of Armenian businesses also attended the meeting.
According to a report by the Armenian government, the talks focused on opportunities for exporting fresh vegetables and flowers to the UAE. In addition to greenhouse products, the Armenian side proposed exploring the prospects of supplying Armenian mineral water to the Emirates.
The following day, Khojoyan, alongside UAE Ambassador Nariman Al Mulla and delegation members, visited several greenhouse farms. They inspected production and export capabilities, packaging, cold storage facilities, and logistics infrastructure to assess cooperation prospects on-site.
The shipment to the UAE comes as Armenia seeks alternative markets due to Russian restrictions on the import and transit of a wide range of Armenian agricultural products, including fruits, vegetables, mineral water, and fish.
These measures intensified ahead of the parliamentary elections in Armenia in June. Both within Armenia and abroad, they are widely seen as an attempt by Moscow to exert economic pressure on Yerevan.
On July 17, Rosselkhoznadzor (the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision) asked Iran’s Plant Protection Organization to suspend the certification of flowers intended for export to Russia. The agency stated that although the phytosanitary certificates indicated Iran as the country of origin, “the physical characteristics and packaging of the goods are identical to those previously imported from Armenia.”
The suspension of certification will remain in place until bilateral talks are held and the circumstances are clarified.
This took place against the backdrop of large-scale Russian restrictions on Armenian imports.
In June, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan criticized the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) over these restrictions. He stated that the bloc must answer whether it still functions in accordance with its founding principles—the free movement of goods, services, labor, and capital.
“Okay, a problem can last for one month, two months, three months, but by the fourth month, if the problem still exists, then the EAEU does not exist. If the EAEU declares that it does not exist, what are we to do then?” Pashinyan said.
To cope with the restrictions, the Armenian government has introduced several support programs for exporters to help them enter new markets.
The European Union has also stepped in, announcing temporary trade measures that will provide duty-free access for 80% of Armenian exports to the EU. This complements a €52 million (around $59 million) aid package announced in June.
Recently, Armenian authorities reported that the country has gained an unprecedented opportunity to export fish and fish products to the European Union.
