The ArmTech 2012 congress got underway in San Jose, California, and a delegation led by Armenia’s PM Tigran Sargsyan likewise attended the official opening of the event.  

“The ArmTech congress plays an important role in Armenia’s economy. It enables to discuss and outline the prospects for the development of our Information Technology [IT],” Sargsyan noted in his opening remarks. He stressed that the IT sector is at the focus of the Government of Armenia, and that an approximately 25-percent annual IT growth is recorded in the country in recent times.    

“We have certain competitive advantages in the region. First and foremost, that is the high level of education of the population. In the Soviet years, the IT itself was one of Armenia’s economic specialties,” Sargsyan said.   

With respect to the ongoing development in this sector, Armenia’s Premier underscored the role of the large Armenian community in California. He stressed that the Armenian diaspora has a tremendous potential in establishing contacts with the world’s largest IT companies and leading centers and properly representing Armenia.

Tigran Sargsyan informed that over 350 IT organizations currently operate in Armenia, 107 of them represent foreign companies, including 50 organizations that function with American capital. The total turnover of Armenia’s IT sector is $205 million, whose $120 million are exports. Also, 6,760 people are currently employed in the country’s IT sector, but this number continues to grow.

“There are numerous education-related matters in the Government’s action plan, and today we are obligated to make a significant contribution to the education of future generations,” Armenia’s PM stated.     

In conclusion, Tigran Sargsyan expressed a conviction that the ArmTech 2012 congress will contribute to the development of Armenia’s IT sector.