French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies visited Gegharkunik Province, where he took part in the Sevan Startup Summit 2025, explored various France-backed local development initiatives, and even tried his hand at milking a cow. The ambassador shared highlights of his visit on his X microblog.
“50 countries, 250 startups, 15,000 participants. A unique event in the region. In Armenia, freedom and innovation go hand in hand,” Decottignies wrote about the summit.
In another post, he described his visit to the village dispensary in Tsaghkunq, renovated by the French NGO “Medical Aid and Development” with support from the city of Grenoble and the Gegharkunik regional administration. “The decentralized cooperation between France and Armenia extends across the country,” he noted.
A separate post dedicated to his stop in Khachaghbyur highlighted French support for Armenian migrants who voluntarily return home with assistance from France’s Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII). While there, he also joined in milking a cow.
“I learned cow-milking techniques from Mrs. Galstyan and her cow Sona, which she acquired with help from OFII as part of her reintegration support,” the ambassador posted.
