New Prospects for Cooperation Between Ijevan and Rustavi Municipalities

Friendly ties and joint initiatives with sister cities from different countries are highly valued by the Ijevan community. On November 26, Ijevan hosted a delegation from its sister city, Rustavi, Georgia. The visit took place at the invitation of the Ijevan Municipality and aimed to strengthen the friendly, cultural, and partnership relations between the two cities.

The visit was organized with funding from the Austrian Development Agency and within the framework of the Council of Europe’s cross-border cooperation program “Democratic Development, Decentralization, and Good Governance in Armenia, Phase 2.” The program focuses on developing community capacities, improving the quality of governance, and expanding international partnerships. In this context, the cooperation between Ijevan and Rustavi is entering a new stage, highlighting the mutual interest of both cities in joint initiatives.

The delegation visited the Ijevan Wine-Brandy Factory, where they were introduced to the production processes. After the tour, a meeting was held with representatives of Ijevan’s business, culture, and tourism sectors, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors for experience exchange, development of new projects, and stimulation of economic activity.

Continuing an established tradition, the day ended with a symbolic tree-planting ceremony at the Mother Armenia Memorial Complex in Ijevan — a gesture symbolizing the strong friendship and long-term cooperation between the two cities.