ARMENIAN-INDIAN ICT CENTER OF EXCELLENCE TO OPERATE IN YEREVAN STARTING FROM 2010
NOYAN TAPAN
DECEMBER 16, 2009
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Under an agreement signed between
the governments of Armenia and India, an Armenian-Indian ICT Center
of Excellence will operate in Yerevan starting from 2010. The work of
this center to promote bilateral cooperation in the information and
communication technology sector will be coordinated by the Enterprise
Incubator Foundation (Armenia) and the Center for Development of
Advanced Computing (India).
RA Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsian told reporters on December 16
that both countries have rapidly developing IT sectors, so considerable
success can be achieved in terms of an exchange of experience and
knowledge.
The minister said that the center will operate at Yerevan State
University, but it will be accessible to all researchers. It will have
modern equipment and software enabling to solve complex scientific and
research problems. The center will prepare highly qualified experts
with the aim of attracting investments to the Armenian market.
Besides, it is envisaged organizing short-term certification courses
on application computer programs and advanced computer systems for
specialists from Armenia and regional countries. The center will also
run short-term courses on management and technical subjects.
The Indian Ambassador to Armenia Achal Kumar Malhotra said that India
has made serious progress in the ICT sector over the past 20 years.
"This project is part of the policy conducted by the Indian government,
it envisages an exchange of experience with developing countries. We
are ready to be a reliable partner of Armenia, and we want to deepen
the bilateral relations. I am confident that the project will be
implemented by the schedule date and will have a long time," the
ambassador stated.
Director of the Enterprise Incubator Foundation Bagrat Yengibarian
announced that in January 2010 a group of Armenian lecturers will
leave for India to undergo retraining, after which they will conduct
retraining courses for local specialists in Armenia. Besides, three
Indian experts will spend a year in Armenia and assist with the
establishment of the center. The process of supplying the center with
equipment will start in March, while the Armenian experts will return
from India in September. According to B. Yengibarian, if work proceeds
according to schedule, the center will begin operating in October.