YEREVAN. - The Government of Armenia and Microsoft Corporation signed on Tuesday long-term cooperation agreements in the spheres of IT development, protection of intellectual property (IP) rights, data security, as well as education and innovation.

Prior to the official signing ceremony, Armenia’s PM delivered a speech, in which he noted that the IT sphere is one of the fastest developing spheres in Armenia, being one of the key directions in Armenian Government Program. “In this context, upon Armenian Parliament initiative, in December 2014 the Armenian Government adopted a legislative package on state support to the IT sphere, which provides tax exemption for IT startups starting from 2015,” he said.  

The PM highly appreciated the cooperation with Microsoft Corporation, which has started since 2007 upon the signing of memorandum of cooperation in IT sphere. The mentioned memorandum, according to Abrahamyan, ensures the availability and application of the leading global corporation’s knowledge and experience in Armenia.  

“The Microsoft Innovation Centre, established in Armenia in cooperation with Microsoft Corporation, provides smooth transmission of knowledge by means of trainings, practical seminars and provision of material and technical support to small and medium IT enterprises,” he said. Abrahamyan also attached great importance to the establishment of Microsoft IT Academy at State Engineering University of Armenia, as well as provision of complete Microsoft license packages to Armenian educational institutions on preferential conditions. 

According to the PM, the signing of the cooperation agreements with Microsoft Corporation will contribute even more to the strengthening of mutually beneficial cooperation, raising Armenia’s reputation in the region as a country proposing innovative technological solutions and protecting IP rights.  

Afterwards, Don Grantham, President of the Microsoft Central and Eastern European region, along with Richard Mills, US ambassador to Armenia, also delivered a speech.  

Don Grantham said it was a great honor to be present at such an important historic point of Armenia-Microsoft Corporation relations: “We signed our first agreement in Scotland, an event attended by Bill Gates, the founder and President of Microsoft Corporation." According to him, Microsoft office opened in Armenia then and within the framework of the same agreement in 2011 the first Microsoft Innovation Centre was founded, which is currently one of the most influential and efficient operating centers globally.  

Mr Grantham praised the various joint achievements of Armenia and Microsoft, which have fostered Armenia’s economic activity and opening of new jobs. He expressed confidence regarding Armenia’s promising future in the IT sphere.

US Ambassador Richard Mills congratulated Hovik Abrahamyan on signing on behalf of the Armenian government an agreement guaranteeing the protection of IP rights in compliance with international standards. According to him, the agreement contains an important message, namely that Armenia wants to run businesses in accordance with the rule of law and IP rights.

The aforementioned Memorandum of Cooperation provides cooperation with Armenia in the spheres of IT development, protection of IP rights, data security, as well as education and innovation. It also stipulates the establishment of a regional centre of cloud and mobile solutions in the country on the basis of the Microsoft Innovation Centre. The centre will enable Armenian IT specialists to develop program solutions, using the newest Microsoft technologies and experience, thus raising Armenia’s competitiveness in the area.