Artavazd Hakobyan is an agriculture economist in the Agriculture Global Practice of the World Bank. He is managing analytical and advisory projects on food and agriculture in the Russian Federation, and is involved in analytical and investment projects in Central Asia. Prior to this, he worked on agriculture and rural development in several countries of East Asia, Southern Africa and Europe and Central Asia regions, where, among other activities, he helped promote agribusiness and value chain development, food safety, and food and agricultural innovation. Artavazd holds a Master of International Business degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, USA and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Auburn University, USA.