INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES CONFERENCE IN ARMENIA
2009/ 04/02|16:14
A two-day conference on "Promoting Regional Cooperation through
Information Technologies" kicked off in Yerevan today. The forum
has been organized within the framework of Armenia’s presidency of
the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization. Representatives in
the information and telecommunications field from Armenia, Russia,
Ukraine, Georgia and Turkey will participate in the forum.
RoA Deputy Minister of Energy Vahe Danielyan said in his opening
speech that the main objective of the forum is to expand existing
cooperation and establish new ties with representatives of the IT
sphere, boost development in the field of innovation and in the
existing technological process. "The Armenian Government views this
sphere as the main target of development. It is the most popular sphere
all over the world. In the future we see Armenia as an e-society and
we do believe that our country could be a big "laboratory" in this
field," the Deputy Minister of Economy noted.
Participants of the forum consider that development is the only
way to resist the global economic crisis. Specialists stated that
the influence of the crisis in the IT sphere can already be felt,
and it may reach the peak by the end of the year.
Recently the World Economic Forum released the Global IT Development
Report, where countries were ranked according to the level of
development of the IT sector.
The report included 134 countries, and Armenia ranked 114th. Director
of the Enterprise Incubator Foundation Bagrat Yengibaryan said,
however, that the researchers used the data of 2003-2004. Besides, out
cell operators do not provide data on how many people use cell phones.
Speaking about one of the branches of the field, the Internet, Bagrat
Yengibaryan said only 25% of our populations uses the Internet,
but the number is expected to reach 70% within the coming five years.
Head of Public Relations Department of the Turkish Broadcasting
Authorities Hamid Hersoy said 60% of population in Turkey has Internet
access. "The fee for Internet is gradually decreasing. There is tense
competition in Turkey. Internet is very popular in our country,"
he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
