ARMENIA SHOULD TAKE LEADING ROLE IN REGIONAL COMPETITION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR, PRIME MINISTER SAYS

Noyan Tapan
April 22, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Transport and communication sector
is of great importance for Armenia, especially taking into account
the current geopolitical problems and challenges, the prime minister
Tigran Sargsian said when introducing the newly appointed minister
Gurgen Sargsian to the staff of the RA ministry of transport and
communication. According to him, IT sector is among the priority
directions of the government’s activities, and the ministry should
be able to achieve a turning point in development of the sector and
allow it to take a leading role in regional competition.

Speaking about the work of the previous minister Andranik Manukian,
T. Sargsian said that A. Manukian succeeded in establishing close
relations with his partners from Russia, Iran, Georgia, Turkey and
Azerbaijan, and this achievement should be maintained and developed.

A. Manukian in his turn stated that construction of interstate
roads has mainly been completed, part of the roads of republican
importance have been reconstructed, and construction of rural roads
has begun under several programs, including with state budgetary
resources. Negotiations with the Japanese Bank have finished: the
Japanese side intends to allocate 130 million dollars for restoration
of rural roads in Armenia. It is envisaged to restore the whole road
network of the country by 2010.

According to A. Manukian, the inventory making of Armenian Railway
will finish by May 15, and on June 1st the company will be transferred
to South Caucasian Railway.