The grand opening of the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2019) took place at Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex in Yerevan on Monday, October 7, to run through October 9.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan delivered opening remarks at WCIT 2019 alongside World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) Chair Yvonne Chiu and WCIT 2019 Organizing Committee President and Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE) Chair Alexander Yesayan.

This year, WCIT will address "The Power of Decentralization: Promise and Peril" and explore how information and communications technology is transforming our lives for better and for worse, and its impact on profits and prosperity, safety and security, democracy and humanity.

The conversation that begins at WCIT 2019 will continue beyond the close of the conference in an ongoing series of discussions called The Yerevan Talks.

WCIT 2019 is expected to attract more than 2,500 participants from more than 70 countries, including the leaders of the IT industry, CEOs, investors, distinguished speakers, policy makers, government officials, scientists and technologists.

The congress is hosted by Armenia with the support and under the high patronage of the country's government. WCIT was established by the World Information Technology and Services Alliance. Its main organizing body is the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises.