The relationship between Yerevan and Lyon started as far back as in 1992 will get a new practical level. Yerevan Mayor Hrachya Sargsyan who is in Lyon with the aim of participation in the 4th Forum of Armenian-French Decentralized Cooperation, had a meeting with his colleague Gregory Doucet.
Greeting the members of the Yerevan delegation the Mayor of Lyon marked that Yerevan has a special significance as a partner city. Gregory Doucet expressed confidence that the Forum will open new perspectives of interaction between the two cities.
“The friendship and partnership formed between two cities will surely make it possible to implement new mutually beneficial programs. The problems of all big cities are almost the same, and we are ready to be useful to our partner city Yerevan on the stage of initiated reforms via successful experience exchange”, noted the Mayor of Lyon.
Expressing gratitude for the invitation and warm welcome, the Mayor of Yerevan in his turn attached importance to realization of practical programs and experience exchange.
“It is highly important for us to carry out experience exchange programs with Lyon in the field of urban economy management. We believe that we can have definite cooperation in the sphere of transport, traffic management and urbanism. Yerevan is actually interested in development and expansion of the Armenian-French Decentralized Cooperation, and here we see wide perspectives. Today we are participating in the forum which is of great significance from the point of view of creation and strengthening of partnership between cities”, said Yerevan Mayor and invited the Mayor of Lyon to Yerevan with a reciprocal visit. Hrachya Sargsyan also marked that it will be a good opportunity to discuss together the three-year program to be started in 2023.
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The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the municipalities of Yerevan and Lyon during the official meeting. With the document signed the parties assumed the obligation to join efforts in the sphere of education assisting in development of French-Armenian Vocational (CEPFA) Education Centre. In particular, the program of reorganization of Craftsmanship and Qualifications Campus will be carried out to make it possible to expand the facilities and premises of the centre and implement new educational programs to provide professions which are in demand.
It should be noted that currently the CEPFA hosts about 200 students and improvement of the facilities will make let admit more young people.