Ruben Vardanyan
Revival of Tatev (Armenia)
Tatev Revival Project aims to combine the significance of Tatev Monastery with the construction of necessary infrastructure and community development that will develop the region into an attractive world-class tourist destination. The main goals of the project are:
- revival of Tatev Monastery, including architectural restoration and revitalization of Tatev’s monastic and educational heritage;
- community development of nearby villages including participation in building of necessary hard and social infrastructure, creating jobs, helping local farmers and entrepreneurs;
- development of areas nearby the Wings of Tatev ropeway (Tatev Gateway), including building of necessary tourism infrastructure (infocenter, hotel, playgrounds, hiking routes, camping areas, etc.).
Key facts
- Donors to the project include Armenians, Russians, Americans, Kurds, Indians, Jews and representatives of many other nationalities – around 140 people from 18 countries.
- Stakeholders of the project are central and local governments of Armenia, National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia, the Armenian Apostolic Church, international organizations, local communities, institutional and private donors and investors.
- Overall investments in the project altogether will total $80 mln.
- Reconstruction of the monastery is slated for completion in 2017.
Interviews and other materials
Ruben Vardanyan
Ruben Vardanyan: “Base yourself on the past and look to the future”
AGOS (www.agos.com.tr), 19.10.2015
Projects about Armenian history and culture have a remarkable place in 14th Istanbul Biennale that is titled “Salt Water”. Dilijan Art Initiative, which is founded by Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonaben in order to support the cultural development of Dilijan city and Armenia, supports these important projects about the Armenians in Biennial.
One of the prominent figures of Armenian Diaspora, Russian investment banker Ruben Vardanyan is an important entrepreneur and philanthropist. IDeA Foundation (Initiatives for Development of Armenia) that he founded with his wife Veronika Zonabend has the purpose of creating a bright future and a comfortable life style in Armenia with long-term projects. The international school established in Dilijan which has students from 64 countries and “Tatel Revival” which has the purpose of facilitating the cultural and economic development in and around Tatev are the most important projects that were realized by this foundation.
Ruben Vardanyan
Ruben Vardanyan: “I don't want us to stop comparing ourselves to the best”
MEDIA.am, 10.09.2015
With his various initiatives in Armenia, ambitious and requiring large investments, it seems that the entrepreneur, philanthropist, and co-founder of IDeA Foundation Ruben Vardanyan is trying to return to local Armenians the charm and advantages of living with wide prospects and long-term plans.
IDeA Foundation's various projects – UWC Dilijan College, the Tatev Revival program, which began with the construction of the Wings of Tatev cableway, and the large-scale 100 LIVES project, which also includes a multilingual multimedia website and other small and large projects – began from a dream, Vardanyan says.
Ruben Vardanyan
Ruben Vardanyan, former Troika Dialog CEO: a grumbling optimist
Financial Times, 14.01.2015
For a man once called the poster boy of Russian capitalism, Ruben Vardanyan is remarkably relaxed about the crisis erupting around him. Sitting in his office in one of Moscow’s premier office complexes, which he also owns, surrounded by deal trophies and other symbols of his success, Mr Vardanian’s response to the rouble’s collapse and the slide towards recession is typically Russian: it has been worse.
“It’s all relative,” he says, before counting off a list of Russian economic crises of the past quarter century since the collapse of the Soviet Union. “Looking back for 25 years being in this country I can tell you, there are always challenges.”
