India-Armenia Relations

Armenian, an European Country in East Europea surrounded by Georgia on the north, Azerbaijan on the east, Iran on the South and Turkey on the west, is one of the oldest country, Armenians landed in Chennai nearly 2500 years back and carried out Trade & Commerce with India as well as with other countries.

Armenia as a country and the citizens who arrived in Madras and built a very close and cordial relationship with Indian citizens and in particular with the people of Chennai (erstwhile Madras).

We would like to mention here that a street has been named as “Armenian Street” opposite to High Court 300 years back. Over 300 Armenian Families had lived in the street and they were responsible for trade and culture in the erstwhile Madras Presidency.

The Government of Republic of Armenia wanted to review and expand multifold the relationship with India in particular with Chennai and they decided to have a Consulate Office in Chennai to cater to Southern India.

The opening of Consulate Office in Chennai took place in 2011 and on the decision of having Consulate office in Chennai His Excellency Ara Hakobyan, Ambassador of Republic of Armenia and His Excellency Shivkumar Eashwaran, Hon Consul, Republic of Armenia met the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in December 2011 and presented their credential and discussed in great length regarding Indo Armenian relationship promotion of Trade, Culture, Education, Science, Tour etc.,

On establishing a Consulate Office in Chennai all the activities like of Trade, Culture, Education, Science, Tour were initiated and started to be active for the benefit of one and all.

During the meeting with Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 12th June, 2013 2012 by His Excellency Ara Hakobyan, Ambassador of Republic of Armenia and His Excellency Shivkumar Eashwaran, Hon Consul, Republic of Armenia, she was kind enough to suggest the enhancing of the relationship between Chennai and Armenia and co-incidentally the year 2013 becoming the 300th Year of the naming of Armenian Street, it was suggested and welcomed by the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to celebrate the remembrance of existence of Armenian Street.

The Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was also kind enough to immediately respond on the same and also confirmed her interest to have remembrance nearby Armenian Street.

Thereafter we met the Worshipful Mayor of Chennai City and briefed him about the meeting.

The Corporation of Chennai has granted a place (Island) at the end of the NSC Bose Road near Parrys Corner.

A remembrance of the 300 years of completion of the naming of Armenian Street and the Cordial relationship between Armenia and Chennai is going to be celebrated by installing some display designed by the Republic of Armenia for which a team was recently been to Chennai (between 3rd to 6th March 2014) to study the space and the surrounding.

Recently the Worshipful Mayor of Chennai was met during the teams visit and he was impressed and spontaneously suggested to utilize more available space in Chennai to propagate the cordial relationship between Armenia and Chennai for which few ideal spots in around Armenian Street is under consideration.

India - Armenia So far yet so close