The veterinary system plays a crucial role in the Animal Identification and Registration (AI&R) project in the Republic of Armenia (RA). The success of the project and the quality of the collected data are directly linked to the veterinary system, as the veterinarians are the ones who implement the program. Throughout the AI&R working group discussions, the RA Ministry of Economy has consistently emphasized the importance of veterinary system reforms. These reforms are expected to enhance the quality of veterinary services, animal husbandry, and the AI&R system in RA, ensuring their stability and continuity.

International experts from the "Agrarmarkt Austria" agency have also highlighted the necessity of reforms and their significant role in enhancing the efficiency of the AI&R system based on their studies in the Republic of Armenia (RA).

On the initiative of RA Deputy Minister of Economy Tatevik Sargsyan and the CARD Foundation, a workshop dedicated to veterinary sector reforms was held from June 7 to 8. The workshop was attended by RA Deputy Minister of Economy Tatevik Sargsyan, Deputy Head of the Yerevan Office of the Austrian Development Agency Nora Alanakyan, Director of the RA Ministry of Agriculture's "Center for Agricultural Services" SNCO Garnik Hovhannisyan, Deputy Head of the RA Food Safety Inspection Authority Sona Tsarukyan, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry Arevik Abovyan, President of the RA National Association of Veterinarians Arman Ohanyan, representatives of the CARD Foundation, and other interested parties. During the workshop, the process and problems of the AI&R project, the existing problems in the RA veterinary system, the services of the sector and the educational sector, and the ways to improve them were discussed, and a plan of action and deadlines were defined.

In her concluding speech, Tatevik Sargsyan highlighted the long-standing collaboration between the RA Ministry of Economy, the Austrian Development Agency, and the CARD Foundation.

"I hope this cooperation will continue, extending support to the small cattle identification and registration program as well. Many important questions were raised and discussed during the workshop. I suggest we continue these discussions, establish a working group, and transform the ideas we developed today into a comprehensive project to present to the government," she stated.

The CARD Foundation has expressed its commitment to developing a preliminary project for the reform of the veterinary system in the Republic of Armenia (RA). This project will be based on the insights gathered during the workshop discussions and will undergo further review and updates by a working group led by the RA Ministry of Economy. Once finalized, the Ministry of Economy will present the project to the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

The workshop was organized within the framework of the Animal Identification and Registration project in the Republic of Armenia, which is implemented by the funding of the RA Government by the CAS SNCO. Financial and technical support for the project is provided by the Austrian Development Agency through the CARD Foundation.