AI & Semiconductors: Armenia’s first AI development plant, Eleveight, is expanding after a $150m first-phase program (about $70m already used), with capacity set to grow from 5MW to 40MW as demand is fully booked. Hospitality Standards: Armenia’s Hotel Association won the tender to assign star ratings using Hotelstars Union criteria, aiming to align local hotels with international quality benchmarks. Gaming & Tourism Investment: Global Tribe Gaming plans a $500m Yerevan gaming, hotel and entertainment complex, targeting about 1,000 jobs and discussing taxation, licensing and payment rules. Infrastructure Engineering: Iranian firms have started construction of the 7.2km Kajaran Tunnel, part of the North-South Corridor, to shorten access to the Black Sea region. EAEU Integration Push: Prime Minister Pashinyan told Russian media Armenia seeks “alternatives” while urging the EAEU to improve competitiveness and common-market functioning; at the Cholpon-Ata summit, EAEU leaders also signed deals on e-trade, exchange access and academic title recognition. Trade Pressure: Armenia’s foreign trade turnover in H1 2026 slipped 0.1% to $9.57bn, with EAEU trade down sharply while EU trade rose. Food & Agriculture Disputes: Russia’s restrictions on Armenian imports remain a live issue, with Armenian officials warning about impacts on exports. Local Oversight: Irregularities were flagged in an Araratcement sports school acquisition, with the case referred to anti-corruption authorities. Retail & Consumer: Subway is considering entering Armenia with 60+ branches and $150k–$300k investment per site.