Armenia finding its place in global IT market

Yerkir/Arm
24 June 05

An Armenian IT representation office was created in Canada with the
purpose to assist to the presentation of the Armenian IT sector to
the international market and attract investments into the IT sector.
The representation was launched in October 2004 as an initiative of
Enterprise Incubator Foundation.

First, the Canadian IT sector was explored, its position and
significance in the global IT market was studied and the possibilities
for integration of Armenian IT companies and products into the Canadian
market were identified. At the second stage, a representation office
of the Armenian IT sector was established in Canada with the purpose
to increase awareness of the Armenian IT products and services in North
America. “We are trying to establish business contacts between Armenian
and Canadian IT companies and encourage and attract investments into
the IT sector in Armenia,” chief specialist of Enterprise Incubator
Foundation, Canada Representation project coordinator Anna Piloyan
says.

Only one person, Grant Thomas, is currently representing the Armenian
IT sector in Canada. However, it is envisaged to create an Armenian IT
center where 3-4 Canadian specialists will work. The IT representative
in Canada is currently receiving detailed information regarding private
IT companies working in Armenia. Several companies have been selected
by the Enterprise Incubator Foundation whose work will be presented
to the Canadian IT companies with the assistance of Grant Thomas.

The selected companies are NATK e-payment system, SystroTech Company
specializing in modeling of resource management systems, Netman
Company specializing in modeling of virtual offices, Bi-Line, Triada
and M-Possible companies specializing in multimedia, CIT, ABM and
Outsourcingarmenia.com companies. Currently, Grant Thomas is working
with EIF to develop information packages to present these companies on
the international market. “The information packages will include all
necessary information to show that Armenian companies can cooperate
with large international companies and be trustworthy partners,”
Piloyan says.

The Armenian Embassy in Canada has assisted greatly in implementation
of the project. Two teleconferences have been organized by the Embassy
which stirred the interest of Canadian IT companies. Representative
of more than 45 IT companies from Canada and Armenia participated in
the teleconference organized in the framework of ACITIP project.

Research and Innovations Center in Ottawa with assisted the
organization of the teleconferences. The Armenian IT representation
office is located in this research center. Two more roundtable
discussions will be organized in Montreal and Toronto. Grant Thomas
is also supporting a project on exchange of experience whereby 5
specialists and managers from Armenian IT companies will be given
an opportunity to visit Canadian companies specializing in similar
services.

The anticipated duration of the project is one year with possibility
of extension if positive results are achieved by the end of the year
and if contracts are signed between the Armenian and Canadian IT
companies. “We can assure that the project is very efficient and the
Armenian companies will definitely sign contracts with their Canadian
counterparts,” Piloyan says.

Similar representation offices will be established in USA and Europe
with the purpose of presenting Armenia’s IT potential and attracting
investments into the Armenian IT sector. Currently, France and Germany
are being considered as potential candidate countries for creating
Armenian IT centers.

“We are thinking about Germany because it has the largest IT market
in Europe. And we are thinking about France since we have Diaspora
there working with IT companies. In any case, the experience of work of
the Armenian IT center in Canada will be very valuable for organizing
the operation of the centers in USA and Europe,” Piloyan concluded.

Varduhi Zakarian
PanARMENIAN Network