In the past sixty-odd years Yerevan has undergone great changes and has considerably expanded its territory. Its rate of growth has been so rapid that time and again it has exceeded plans, which seemed almost fantastic at the time they were adopted.
During the years of Soviet rule the population of Yerevan has increased thirty times over! At the present time it has reached 1.2 million. Yerevan today - a major industrial centre of the Armenian republic - contributes a large share to the development of the national economy. Yerevan now boasts the most modern branches of industry, those branches most needed for the national economy - chemical, electrotechnical, machine-tool, machine-building, automobile, instrument-making, electronic, and radio-electronic.
All of these make up the aspect of present-day industrial Yerevan. Yerevan is the largest centre of the republic's food and light industries. Almost all of the woollen and silk fabrics produced in Armenia are made in Yerevan. The cognacs for which Armenia is famous are produced at the Yerevan Cognac Factory which you may visit and where you can take part in the tasting of these wonderful products. Armenian cognacs are participants at almost all international exhibitions and fairs. More than fifty medals, the majority of them gold medals, from the proud collection of international awards won by Armenian cognacs.
Much praise has also fallen to Armenian wines, most of which are produced at the Yerevan Winery and the Yerevan Factory of Champagne Wines. Yerevan is not only the heart, but also the brain of the republic, the major scientific centre of Armenia. All in all, there are more than 120 research institutions in Armenia, most of which are in Yerevan. The centre of Armenian science is the Armenian Academy of Sciences.
Yerevan is a city of students. Statistics show that one out of every three of Yerevan's population is studying in one or another educational establishment. Eleven of the republic's thirteen higher educational establishments are located in Yerevan. There are scores of specialized secondary schools and more than 150 secondary schools in the city. The Yerevan State University is rightly termed the republic's main centre for training specialists. Founded in December 1920, the University was the first higher educational establishment in Armenia. Now it has become the leading higher educational institution in Armenia and one of the largest and best in the region. Many of the University's graduates have become prominent scientists, writers, executives, and public figures. Another large higher educational institution is the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute, which trains highly qualified specialists for the national economy. It has an enrolment of about 20,000 students.
The Armenian capital also has an agricultural, a veterinary, a medical, an art and theatre institutes, an institute of physical culture and sport, and a conservatory, which bears the name of the Armenian composer Komidas.
The Armenian capital is the heir of the past culture and the focal point of the contemporary culture of the Armenian people. During your stay in Yerevan, you can visit its various museums, attend performances at its theatres and concert halls, watch a wide range of interesting sports competitions -from local to international meets - at its stadiums and sports grounds.
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