TRDP Supports New Business in Shirak
< 1 min readSHIRAK, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA) is delighted to announce the opening of a new retail store in Kamo village in the Shirak region of Armenia. This business venture has come to fruition thanks to the sustained support of the AUA Turpanjian Rural Development Program (TRDP), a sponsored program dedicated to stimulating entrepreneurship in the regions of Armenia, facilitating the establishment or expansion of businesses and creating new jobs.
The official opening of Aida Khurshudyan’s retail store brought the entire village community to the event. TRDP Executive Committee Chair Dr. Haroutune Armenian, Director of Field Operations Zorair Kirakosian, and TRDP Shirak team leader Artur Lalayan were also in attendance.
Khurshudyan’s store is now the largest retail establishment in the village, offering an impressive array of products, including tableware and clothing. This remarkable success story had humble beginnings as a small market adjacent to the building. In 2019, TRDP provided crucial support for expanding the original market, which resulted in the creation of an impressive and successful venture. Encouraged by this achievement, Khurshudyan reapplied to the program and participated in a specialized training course to enhance her skills, and subsequently expanded her business.
At the opening ceremony, Dr. Armenian emphasized the significance of this business venture for the entire village community, highlighting its transformative impact on the local economy and residents’ livelihood.
The AUA Turpanjian Rural Development Program provides education, funding and consultations to existing and startup businesses in the rural communities of Shirak, Tavush, Vayots Dzor, Gegharkunik, Lori, and Ararat provinces of Armenia, as well as in Artsakh and Javakhk (Georgia). The list of eligible communities and eligibility criteria can be found here. The program continues to accept applications for the next round of training.
