President Armen Sarkissian had a distant conversation on “Startups after the coronavirus” topic with the startup community: coronavirus is a cold shower which reminded that the world has changed

At the initiative of the Startup Armenia Fund, President Armen Sarkissian had today a distant conversation on the “Startups after the coronavirus” topic with the representatives of the Armenian startup community. During the conversation, President Sarkissian spoke in particular about the situation created by the recent pandemic in the world and in Armenia and activities of the startups under the existing circumstances.

Responding to the question on what to expect after the pandemic, President Sarkissian noted that the threat posed by the virus still exists. “The coronavirus has not been defeated yet: we will be living with it for a long time until a medicine or a vaccine is created. Everyone should be cautious not to pass the virus to others, to the elderly or those with frail health,” the President said. “This is about moral responsibility and care for others, first of all about our families. Thus, I ask you to express your attitude toward your families, which are sacred to us all, through a responsible behavior, through protecting yourselves lest you become carriers of the coronavirus and endanger the young and the old.”

The President underscored that the world is changing already, and the coronavirus just speeded up the understanding of that change. “Coronavirus became a cold shower which reminded that the world has changed, and viruses from now on will be spreading very fast, in a quantum mode.”

Speaking of the role of startups in the new situation, President Sarkissian noted that the world is moving in the direction where the role of startups will not decrease, but increase. “It means that after the coronavirus the world will continue to move in the direction it has been moving before the coronavirus, probably even faster. The role of electronic companies will increase. Many will understand that there is no need to gather together to solve many issues, it can be done virtually. Many will understand that their families are of great value because those fathers who run about all day long and don’t see their children, will discover that they have brilliant kids and spending time with them, educating them is also important,” the President of Armenia observed. “The bottom-line is: from now on the role of startups will be significant. It’s not about the relations the material world will have with the virtual one; it is about the fact that the world will continue to change anyway, maybe faster than before which means startups have a great role in all this.”

The President of Armenia responded also to multiple questions raised by the representatives of the startup community which pertained mostly to the areas which would be perspective after the coronavirus pandemic, possible assistance to startups, and some concrete projects.