ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: INVESTMENTS IN IT SECTOR INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 20 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Attaching special importance
to the role of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
sector in Armenia’s economic development, the Armenian government has
given it a top priority since 2000, with consistent and comprehensive
work being done to ensure the sector’s sustainable growth and
development. The Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian stated
this at the opening of the Innovative Information and Communication
Technologies international conference in Yerevan on September 20.

According to him, thanks to the joint efforts of the Armenian
government and the private sector, the amount of investments
in the IT sector has substaintially grown recently, with the IT
industry’s production accounting for 1.7% of GDP. "New educational and
training programs were introduced in schools and higher educational
institutions, as well as teaching centers of regional importance
were established. All this shows that Armenia has enough potential
to become a regional center of the IT sector," A. Margarian said.

The prime minister noted with satisfaction that Armenia’s IT sector
is presented more and more efficiently in the international arena.

The holding of annual international ICT exhibitions "Digitec" in
Yerevan has become a tradition.

A. Margarian underlined the importance of Armenia-Diaspora efficient
cooperation in the IT sector. In his words, the Diaspora has had
an active and direct role in the establishment of IT companies in
Armenia. He expressed a hope that this cooperation will continue.

To recap, the conference was organized by the Enterprise Incubator
Foundation (IEF) in the framework of ICT Month and the second
Armenia-Diaspora economic forum.

The main purpose of the conference is to present Armenia as a regional
leader in the ICT sector and to discuss the modern IT sector-related
developments in the world. The event participants will have a chance
to familiarize themselves with the current trends of IT development,
exchange experience and get practical advice and proposals on WiMaxd,
RFID and other wireless technologies.