Stepanakert - Economy, Education and Cultural Institutions

Economy, Education and Cultural Institutions

Prior to the war, the economy of Stepanakert revolved mainky around food processing, silk weaving, and winemaking. The city's economy was greatly damaged during the war, but in recent years, largely due to the investments of the Armenian diaspora, economic activity and tourism especially, has picked up in Stepanakert and the rest of the NKR. Several hotels have been opened up by diasporan Armenians, including the Nairi Hotel, which was opened by Jack Abolakian, an Armenian Australian, in 2000.

There are five higher educational institutions in Stepanakert: Artsakh State University and four private universities. Artsakh State was originally established in 1969 as a branch of the Baku Pedagogical Institute. In 1973, it was renamed Stepanakert Pedagogical Institute and following the end of the war, in 1995, it received its current name. The university offers courses spread across seven departments and has an attendance level of 4,500.

In September 2010, representatives from the Los Angeles-based Armenia Fund and officials from Armenia and the NKR presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly opened School № 11. The school expects to see an attendance level of 600 students and consists of three buildings, a playground, a gym and other basic amenities such as a computer lab and first aid clinic. Its construction was funded by money gathered by the Armenian Diaspora.

Stepanakert is also the home to the Artsakh State Museum.