The Armenian government has approved a package of legislative amendments that would rename the State Property Management Committee and the Water Committee. The proposal also envisages moving both bodies out of ministerial oversight and placing them directly under the government.
The changes affect the laws “On the Structure and Activities of the Government,” “On Bodies of the State Administration System,” and related legislation. Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Minister Davit Khudatyan said the State Property Management Committee is proposed to be renamed the State Assets Management Committee, while the Water Committee would become the Land and Water Committee.
According to the minister, the government’s 2026–2031 program includes major priorities for water infrastructure and sector development, including drinking water, irrigation water and treatment plants. He added that some relevant functions are currently performed not only by the Water Committee but also by the Ministry of Economy, particularly in land monitoring and efficient land management.
Khudatyan said the creation of the State Assets Management Committee would help align the organizational subordination of state asset management with the scope of its functions and support a unified state policy in the area.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, commenting on the proposed name “Land and Water Committee,” said the naming and branding of state agencies should take into account citizens’ emotional connection with public institutions. In his words, an agency’s name should be understandable to people and, where possible, resonate with them. Pashinyan also stressed that water management should not be separated from land management, since the final destination of irrigation water is the land.
