2014 RA President’s GIT Award Ceremony takes place at Presidential Palace

The Ceremony of the 2014 RA President’s Global IT (GIT) Award took place this evening at the Presidential Palace followed by a reception in honor of the high-tech guru and the author of a number of innovations in microelectronics, Chief Development Officer of Sysco Systems, Inc., Mario Mazzola, and his wife, Luciana Cavaletti.

At the reception, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the GIT Award Committee, Hovik Musayelyan, talked about recent years’ achievements in IT, the largest value-added and a dynamically developing sector in Armenia, initiatives aimed at boosting the sector in our country, as well as about the IT award winner selection procedure and the previous awardees.

“Every year, making a speech at this ceremony, I mention various opinions of previous awardees about their visits to Armenia. Today I would like to recall the words of former Intel Corporation CEO Craig Barrett: “I am very impressed with the Armenian people’s rich history and culture. I have been to Jerusalem many times and every time I visited the Armenian Quarter, I witnessed immense devotion and warmth. I can see the same thing in Armenia. Armenians are very clever, bright and hard-working people. I was happy to notice that Armenians understand the importance of developing information and telecommunication technologies for the country’s future. It is pleasant to observe the same understanding at the government level.”

Indeed, Mr. Barrett is right. We have no alternative to developing the knowledge-based branches. We are confident that the giants who have received this honorary award will return to Armenia, bringing with them a modern culture of high technology, and will raise the international prestige and recognition of our country that relies on knowledge and intellect. It is undeniable that Armenia’s competitive advantages are closely related to the IT sphere, and our country has all the necessary prerequisites and resources to become a regional center and an important player,” said Hovik Musayelyan.

The committee member Tony Moroyan briefly introduced the biography of GIT prizewinner Mario Mazzola to the participants of the reception.
President Serzh Sargsyan delivered a speech at the reception held on the occasion of the award ceremony.

In his acknowledgment speech, GIT prizewinner Mario Mazzola expressed his gratitude for being bestowed such a prestigious IT award, introduced his activities, talked about the development of the IT sphere in the world, as well as about the present prerequisites for boosting that sphere in Armenia and its prospects.

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Remarks by RA President Serzh Sargsyan at the RA President’s GIT Award Ceremony

Distinguished Mr. Mazzola,

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

I am glad to welcome and greet you at the President’s Palace.

It is indeed a joyful occasion to meet. Today I have an honor to hand the RA President’s Global IT (GIT) Award to the Chief Development Officer of Cisco Systems, Inc.

Neither Cisco Systems nor Mr. Mazzola needs special introduction. Everyone, who has more or less dealt with information technology, should be well-aware of these names.

It is said that a talented person is talented in everything. I strongly believe that Mr. Mazzola’s talent should have been revealed in any area he had chosen to dedicate his life to. Nevertheless, it has happened in the area of information technology, and it is now best utilized at Cisco Systems, Inc.

Today Cisco’s engineering and technological solutions are probably used in almost every single country of the world. Those are utilized in mechanical engineering, mining industry, construction, trade, finance and banking, insurance and in a number of other areas. Any country around the globe not making use of Cisco’s work has placed itself out of the frame of civilization.

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

The GIT Award of the President of the Republic of Armenia has already got five years’ history. Therefore, this ceremony also celebrates an anniversary of this prize.

And today we can assert confidently that this award is well-established and widely recognized internationally. With this prize, we express our gratitude to those people, who say a new word in the IT area, and contribute to creation of more favorable conditions for the development of humanity.

But through this award we also direct a special message to our youth. Today’s ceremony is symbolic and pregnant with the slogan of the Cisco Systems, Inc.: Tomorrow starts here. I am confident that Mr. Mazzola will serve as a role-model for Armenian youth, inspiring it to achieve further success in the area of information technology.

Distinguished Mr. Mazzola,

I am very glad that you have arrived in Yerevan accompanied by your family members, your wife and daughter. I hope that during your stay you will learn about our country, our people’s history and present. As for us, we always look forward to seeing our friends and are ready to give them our warmth.

I wish you good health, all the best and success and, of course, further achievements in your favorite work that has made you famous worldwide. Please be assured that we have always been happy and will be happy for your success.
Thank you for finding it convenient to come and receive this modest award in person.