Carmac Group, an Italian company that produces woodworking machines, is teaming up with the Armenian company Vaba Ltd. to construct a factory in Armenia that will manufacture anti-hail systems for the country’s farmers.

Armenian Minister of Agriculture Ignaty Arakelyan made the announcement during at a meeting he recently had with Carmac Group representatives in Vanadzor.

Arakelyan then toured the factory’s construction site in the town.

Vaba Ltd.was founded in 2002 by Vahram Baghdasaryan, who currently heads the Republican Party of Armenia parliamentary faction. He remained the sole owner until February 2018, when the shares were transferred to Vanadzor Municipal Councilman Vahagn Avagyan.

Minister Arakelyan says the first Armenian-made anti-hail systems should be ready by the end of this year.