This year, five startup businesses from Artsakh showcased their products at the fair. Their founders had participated in the “Support to Artsakh Businesses” initiative under the “Menq & Moonq” program, where they gained valuable knowledge in marketing, sales organization, and branding.
For the first time, the New Year’s Fair in Dilijan showcased not only businesses from the Tavush region but also entrepreneurs from Artsakh, who are building new lives in the area. Held on December 8 at the Dilijan Community Center, the fair featured a variety of startup ventures and established business projects displayed across two spacious halls. Each of the five Artsakh businesses that participated in the “Menq & Moonq” program stood out with unique branding elements such as logos, packaging, and visually appealing designs.
Sevak Harutyunyan, founder of “Dedo, Babo,” specializes in bread production. A lawyer by profession, he began baking during the blockade of Artsakh. After being forcibly displaced, he continued this endeavor in Dilijan, transforming it into a family business. “We have mastered bread baking; our current challenge lies in sales, as I need more knowledge about running a business, which I am acquiring through the courses offered by the “Menq & Moonq’’ program,” he explained.
Nakhshun Avagyan, the founder of the “Nakhsh” brand, showcased an array of handcrafted items, homemade gatas, and traditional Sarushen pokhindz at the fair, adding diversity to Tavush cuisine.
Leatherworker David Arakelyan, who relocated to Armenia from Stepanakert, is a trained cardiologist with years of experience at the Artsakh Emergency Center. In Armenia, he and his wife, designer Knarik Zakaryan, established the Leather Master’s Studio, specializing in handmade leather bags and accessories. Their logo reflects their Artsakh roots, featuring the outline of the renowned “Aya-Dedo” monument. Interestingly, the monument’s actual name is “We are, our mountains,” though few may recognize it as such.
The Zakaryan family’s zhengyal breads and Sirsweets Artsakh pakhlava were also presented at the New Year’s fair for the first time. All of these start-ups made their debut alongside other entrepreneurs, and their participation was highlighted by impressive sales and the formation of new connections within the community that has become their new home.
The Menq & Moonq program is financed by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) in partnership with Sign of Hope (SoH). The project is implemented by the Development Principles NGO.
