SME Finance Boost: Converse Bank and the Asian Development Bank signed a deal of up to $15m to expand lending for Armenia’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including women-led businesses, with a sustainability focus on renewable energy and efficiency. OPEC-backed SME Lending: Ameriabank also secured a $50m OPEC Fund loan to scale SME financing and job creation. AI Partnership: Armenia and the United States signed a joint AI cooperation statement at the Trump Institute of Peace, targeting pro-innovation regulation, broader AI supply-chain cooperation, and more private investment. EU Market Push: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to visit Azerbaijan and Armenia, with peace and transport connectivity on the agenda and a key focus on improving access for Armenian agricultural products to EU markets. Phone IMEI Data Concerns: Armenia approved IMEI registration and monitoring mechanisms, but experts warn it could enable excessive surveillance and data collection. Fish Trade Shock: Russia halted all fish imports from Armenia after certification restrictions expanded, hitting a market that historically accounts for nearly all Armenian fish exports. EAEU Procurement Digital Plan: Armenia’s deputy finance minister said the EAEU is building a digital platform for a single public procurement market, though practical access for Armenian firms remains limited. Currency Watch: The dram strengthened slightly vs the dollar while the euro rose, according to the Central Bank.