President Sarkissian conversed via video connection with the participants of the “Sevan Startup Summit -2019”: Armenia should be a favorable place for young talents

Last night, President Armen Sarkissian via video connected with the participants of the “Sevan startup Summit”, conversed with them, inquired about the Summit proceedings, and responded to their questions. “This is a wonderful initiative, and I would like to thank all those who started it. I trust this initiative will be a huge success. It is very important especially for Armenia because Armenia, the way I see the future, should have a strong presence in the area of high and new technologies and become a country of startups. Maybe, there will come a day when we will declare Armenia the world capital of startups,” President Sarkissian said. “Startup is an institute which unites young people, and it is wonderful, it is the most important thing.” Speaking of the prospects of development and conditions for startups, the President of Armenia first and foremost stressed the importance of a high-level education. “To place Armenia among the leading countries, it is necessary to satisfy a number of conditions, and one of them is the high level of education. High-level education for all, from Yerevan to border villages,” the President noted. “Every teacher’s mission is to find gifted kids, and startups will help us find talents.” The second most important factor according to Armen Sarkissian is the presence of the leading international companies in Armenia; they will create the necessary setting for the development of startups. “We cannot just create startups or good ideas if there is no science and new technologies infrastructure. For that very reason, we are working with a number of major companies such as IMB, Google, Leonardo to ensure their presence in Armenia. If major international companies establish themselves in Armenia, they will dictate a special quality of development.” Another factor mentioned by the President is the interconnection with the world. “We are connected to the world in a natural way because Armenians live everywhere. Many talented Armenians are working in California, in the Silicon Valley,” he said. “Thus, it is important to create a network for all and not only Armenians. The 21st century will belong to the young people who are ambitious and courageous, ready to throw a challenge and present their new ideas.” President Sarkissian noted that Armenia should be a favorable place for young talents. “Young talents are always searching for a favorable atmosphere and that atmosphere is the technological area of the 21st century. It means that Armenia needs to have such an area.” Armen Sarkissian expressed readiness to bring his assistance to the “Sevan Startup”. “I am with you, I am a member of your startup community, ready to assist, pave a new way, work with the new generation. You are young, the whole life is ahead but the world is moving forward very fast. It means that you should move fast too.” The President responded also to the questions of the young people from Armenia and different countries of the world.
The “Sevan Startup Summit 2019” is attended by 120 startup teams from Armenia and 45 foreign countries and by over 1000 entrepreneurs from all over the world. The Summit aims at boosting innovative ideas and establishing direct and immediate links among the representatives of the business world. Since 2018, teams-participants of the “Sevan Startup Summit” receive the Presidential Award.