Ralph Yirikian on responsibility, regional development, and the potential of the Diaspora

On May 26, 2026, Mediamax Media Company organized the Impacture 2026 conference in Yerevan dedicated to discussions on charity, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and impact investments.

The partners of the Impacture 2026 conference included Ucom, IDBank, JTI Armenia, Tufenkian Foundation, and HENDERSON Armenia.

“We decided to talk about charity, corporate social responsibility, and impact investments on one platform because we believe these three areas should complement one another, rather than compete for ‘legitimacy’,” said Mediamax Director Ara Tadevosyan. 

The conference opened with a discussion featuring Ucom CEO Ralph Yirikian, who spoke about the development, achievements, and challenges of corporate social responsibility in Armenia over recent decades.

In the mid-2000s, as Armenia’s telecommunications market entered a new stage of development, the term “corporate social responsibility” began to gain wider use in the country. One of its most active proponents was Ralph Yirikian, who, years ago, linked business growth with social impact and long-term investment.

At Impacture 2026, Ucom’s CEO discussed how social investment differs from traditional charity and how public attitudes toward corporate responsibility have evolved over the past two decades.

Expressing gratitude to society

For me, the idea of social responsibility was formed back in 2002-2003, when I was working in Artsakh.

Business develops thanks to society, and we are obliged to express gratitude to society not through words, but through concrete programs.

photo © Mediamax

Corporate social responsibility is not just charity: it is an ideology, a mindset, and a work culture. It also applies to people within the company. First you need to fix your house, then your street, then your neighborhood, and so on.

Charity is a one-time act, social investment is a strategy

You can do charity once or twice, but social investment is a long-term strategy. It must ensure sustainability so that after a few years the program can become self-sufficient.

As an example, I would mention programs implemented in border communities. When we install solar heating in a village or school, people begin saving money previously spent on energy and redirect those funds to other development programs. Everything is interconnected.

Armenia is not only Yerevan

One of the key directions of social programs is the regions, especially border communities. I have always said, and I am ready to repeat: Armenia is not only Yerevan, Armenia is all the regions, starting from the border villages.

photo © Mediamax

When people speak about Armenia, they often think only of the capital, or at most Gyumri and Vanadzor. This is not only wrong, but also a sin. There are many talented children and young people in the regions who need opportunities and pathways.

In March, with the support of Ucom, the annual regional forum “DemArDem: Dialogue of Generations” concluded in Vagharshapat, organized by the “Children of the Regions” NGO. More than 800 teenagers and young people from all regions of Armenia and Javakhk participated in the forum.


Through such initiatives, young people meet, communicate, and exchange ideas. Children from Syunik, Tavush, and other regions realize they are not alone. These connections continue, and that is the real social impact. 

Company employees are “ambassadors” of the ideology

Change starts from within the company itself.

Over the years, a culture has been formed which people carry into other environments. In the course of our work, we train ‘ambassadors’ who then spread this ideology further.

Smaller budgets, greater impact

Compared to previous years, the telecommunications sector’s revenues have decreased, but the ideology behind social programs has not changed.

photo © Mediamax

Naturally, without the trust and support of shareholders, such programs would not be possible to implement. They understand how important it is for the brand.

Decades ago, any operator could allocate up to $15 million annually to social programs.

Today, we are more selective in choosing initiatives and aim to achieve greater impact with fewer resources.

Ucom Fellowship: An opportunity for young people to build businesses

The third phase of the joint Ucom and Impact Hub Yerevan “Ucom Fellowship” Incubation Program was launched in April.


It is a good example of sustainable development. We see how young people develop and what proposals they bring for creating small businesses. Many of these initiatives continue independently.

The Diaspora’s potential through presence in Armenia

The potential of Armenians living abroad is significant, but it is possible to ensure a more effective investment when a person lives and creates in Armenia.

photo © Mediamax

To fully feel the connection with the homeland, one must live here, raise children and grandchildren here, and deepen that connection.

Investing from abroad and managing remotely is not as effective as living in Armenia, being directly involved in business, and live it.

Nune Grigoryan

Photos by David Ghahramanyan