On January 18, Prime Minister (PM) Nikol Pashinyan visited CARD, a USAID legacy organization that was initially established as a farm extension program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1992.  In 2005, CARD became an independent, local agribusiness organization that supports farmers and agribusinesses in the production and marketing of food and related products. Since then, CARD has become one of USAID Armenia’s local implementing partners, supporting USAID’s economic growth activities in the agriculture sector on a variety of projects.  Most recently CARD began implementing USAID’s Rural Economic Development – New Economic Opportunities project, which works to promote sustainable, inclusive economic growth and economic security in rural regions though improved development of small & medium Enterprises/farms, facilitation of market linkages between producers and buyers, and the establishment of networks to promote local economic development. PM Pashinyan’s visit to CARD was an opportunity for the organization to showcase its independence as a local institution that is working to increase incomes and create jobs in rural communities.  The organization also had an opportunity to present their history to PM Pashinyan, in which they discussed their transition from a beneficiary organization to an implementing partner.