THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT COUNCIL (ITDSC) MET UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF OF COUNCIL HEAD, RA PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARGSYAN

Fri day, 10 April 2009

The Council discussed the course of implementation of the assignments
given at the previous session, the objections raised by the
working group on legal regulation concerning Article 9 of the RA
law on defense, the package of proposals on customs legislation and
administration reform.

Information on the course of implementation of over ten assignments
given at the previous session was presented by RA Minister of Economy
Nerces Yeritsyan and the heads of working groups of the Council. In
particular, the Council took notice of the report submitted by the head
of the Strategic Policy working group stating that the realization
of those programs stipulated in the 2010-2011 program of action on
introduction of a system of electronic government in state agencies has
been discussed with the corresponding working groups. It was proposed
to transfer part of the programs into the list of 2009 and prepare a
3-year program on decision of the mentioned question. According to the
speaker, it will enable to have by the end of this year a functional
system of electronic government with real development opportunities
in line with international standards. The council also took note of
the report submitted by the head of the working group o n science and
education on the creation of an ethnic Armenian business-specialized
network. The prime minister instructed to prepare a corresponding
analytical report on this issue which should also be sent off to the
National Competitiveness Council for consideration as it enables to
mobilize municipalities quickly and without great charges, which
is especially important amidst the global financial and economic
crisis. As for another assignment concerning the establishment of
an international presidential award for significant discoveries and
best works in the sphere of information technologies, it has been
reported that the question has been given a favorable consideration
which is supposed to promote development in the sphere of information
technologies in our country.

As a result of discussions, the Prime Minister stressed the need for
continuing the debates on a number of agenda items and called for
consistency in their decision.

On the second question of the agenda concerning the objections
regarding Article 9 of the law on defense, it was decided to continue
discussing the question with the public services regulatory commission
and to report back the results to the Council.

The Council also discussed a package of proposals on reforming the
customs legislation and administration, prepared by the Union of
IT Enterprises on the basis of the EIF-drafted analysis – report
entitled "The IT sector business and regulatory framewo rk in the
Republic of Armenia" and the proposals of IT companies. The package
which comprises import/export-related issues was said to have been
discussed with about 50 enterprises, as well as with the State Revenue
Committee by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

The prime minister instructed Director of the Union of IT Enterprises
Karen Vardanyan in a week’s time to collect and present all those
questions of concern to IT companies and forward them to the State
Revenue Committee. The latter was charged to present in a week’s time
official comments on the questions raised in order to hold an extra
discussion at the next meeting, if necessary.

Among other agenda items, the Council discussed actions aimed at
enhancing the international rating of our country in the sphere of
information technologies. It was noted that despite the large amount
of work done over the last few years, Armenia’s rating has fallen
according to the World economic forum. As a remedy, the speakers
pointed out the need for improving coordination of information flows,
enabling greater access to information technologies for the public at
large, taking into effect the Computer for Everybody Program, improving
the quality of services provided in this sphere. The RA Minister of
Science and Education was told to examine the Estonian experience and
submit opinion for discussion at the next council session. Also, the
Public Se rvices Regulatory Commission was proposed to discuss the
possibility of establishing a mandatory electronic payments system
for public service providing entities.

At the end of the session, Minister of Economy Nerces Yeritsyan advised
that a representative forum on the shaping of the electronic society
will be organized in the third quarter of this year with the view of
stimulating the IT sector and making it more accessible to the society.