The gala event of the CaseKey Business Case Competition 2024 sponsored by Byblos Bank Armenia took place from November 22-24 at the Dilijan Training and Research Center of the Armenian Central Bank.

For the second year in a row, Byblos Bank Armenia served as the general sponsor of the competition, which focuses on teaching practical knowledge. This year, the competition was held for the fourth time, with the continued support of the country’s Central Bank.

At the beginning of the year, more than 200 students from Yerevan and regional universities were selected from nearly 600 applicants to complete an intensive six-month educational program, guided by both local and international mentors. Throughout the program, participants had the opportunity to engage in direct meetings with the heads of prominent Armenian organizations and take part in various socialization activities.

Over the course of these months, the teams worked on two business cases, with the finalists focusing on a problem related to the development of digital solutions in Armenia’s banking sector.

“The decision to support the CaseKey competition for a second consecutive year comes down to one key reason: this initiative aligns perfectly with Byblos Bank Armenia’s commitment to delivering practical knowledge and promoting innovation. Our partnership with this program is aimed at helping shape the next generation of leaders across various sectors. I am pleased that this year’s main case focused on the entire industry, meaning solutions developed by the teams will have a direct impact on its growth. Like last year, we are once again impressed by the creativity demonstrated by the participants,” said Hayk Stepanyan, Chief Executive Officer of Byblos Bank Armenia, who regularly meets with the participants to share his insights and experiences.

“We have been collaborating with CaseKey for the fourth year, and I would characterize this initiative as highly significant, not only for the industry but also in terms of advancing business practices. The development of business thinking among young people is crucial, which is why we are committed to fostering this mindset among us. In this regard, CaseKey is doing valuable work. Our contribution to the project mainly comes through our human resources. I personally meet with some of the participants, and many of our colleagues from the Central Bank are also actively involved. I believe our support plays a key role in the success of the project,” said Martin Galstyan, Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia.

“This is already the 4th year of the CaseKey Business Case Competition in Armenia, and we can clearly see the qualitative growth of the participants with every passing year. This progress is evident not only in the quality of the cases solved in Armenia but also in success achieved on international platforms. Even more significant is the growing recognition from local businesses of the value this educational platform offers, viewing it as a key mechanism for developing future generations. In this regard, the involvement of Byblos Bank Armenia, which has been the General Sponsor of CaseKey for two consecutive years, is highly commendable. Their support goes beyond financial backing. The personal involvement of their leadership and their regular interactions with participants promote direct engagement and, more importantly, communication between generations,” said Arshak Karapetyan, co-founder of the CaseKey competition.

The bank reported that a surprise awaited the participants during the gala event. As they reached the final stage, it was revealed that CaseKey collective teams would represent Armenia in two prestigious international business case competitions in Europe. Byblos Bank Armenia will also finance their participation in these competitions.

The CaseKey competition is a unique format, as part of which more than 200 participants get to know a company’s business, its culture, and solve actual business problems.