Armenian Government has introduced a draft budget for 2011 to the National Assembly. The document stipulates allocation of $ 222,000 ($80m AMD) to support information technologies, as much as it was granted in 2010, but three times less that in 2009. Earlier, the Armenian Government called IT sphere a priority sector.

Talking to the NEWS.am-Innovation correspondent Karen Vardanyan, Director General of the Union of Information Technology Enterprises, said that the allocated funds are insufficient for the development of IT sphere.  

“Federation of Judo was granted $87 m AMD (about $250,000), whereas IT sphere, considered a priority sector, only $80m,” Vardanyan noted.

Bagrat Yengibaryan, Director of Enterprise Incubator Foundation, also shared this opinion. According to him, the allocated amount will be sufficient only for financing of several programs, adding that more funds are needed to develop the sector, taking into account that this sphere is a top priority.

NEWS.am tried to get explanations from the Armenian Economy Ministry, but they said that Vache Kirakosyan, head of IT department, is not authorized to clarify anything. However, correspondent failed to contact Deputy Minister Vahe Danielyan who, as they say, is authorized to answer the questions.