In an interview with Hayern Aysor, U.S.-based Iranian-Armenian engineer Armen Saginian said that he had come to Armenia to carry out two investment projects. The first project is the construction of an entertainment complex in Meghri (on the border with Iran) with all the conditions for leisure (restaurants, cafes, equipped with movie theaters) and possibly even a university. By visiting that unique “city”, people will be fully able to spend their vacation with family and friends.

The second project concerns waste management in Yerevan. The engineer is offering to create a special factory with appropriate technologies in order to set aside useful and important substances following reprocessing of wastes and apply those substances in the environment in the future.

“With our first investment project, we want to promote Armenia’s economic development, create jobs and revitalize tourism through which our country will become more recognizable for foreigners,” Armen Saginian stated, adding that he will try to implement these investment projects with his friends who share his ideas and ensure Armenia’s advancement through combined efforts and to the best of their abilities.

Armen Saginian has had many discussions with the Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia Hranush Hakobyan, Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan and other state officials who have expressed the willingness to help implement these investment projects.

“My soul is at ease when I start carrying out such pro-national activities. Each of us needs to be actively engaged in building the homeland for the benefit of the Armenian people. I hope everything goes well and we herald the launch of our activities soon,” Armen Saginian highlighted.

Born in 1933 in Tavriz, Armen Saginian graduated from middle school and moved to Tehran. After his parents divorced, the mother took care of the child, but the two-year-old boy received a severe blow when his mother died, leaving his grandmother to take care of and raise the child.

In 1955, Armen Saginian moves to the United States of America where he works as a farmer, a craftsman, a barber and a teacher’s assistant.

He studied in the Mathematics Department of Maryville College, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tennessee and went on to graduate from the University of California.

For years, he has worked in the fields of aerial space and nuclear engineering for Boeing (1961-62), General Dynamics, Rocketdyne (1963) and Garrett-Air Research (1965-79) and served as Executive Director of New Horizons in 1998.

Armen Saginian’s biggest project was part of the resettlement project (prosperity and renovation) envisaged for 66,000 villages of Iran which, however, was not carried out due to the Islamic Revolution of Iran.

He is fluent in several languages, conducts research, translates and edits and has authored books.

Gevorg Chichyan