President met with the heads of a number of major IT companies: after the pandemic, each country will have the opportunity to reintroduce itself and it is critical that Armenia presents itself properly

President Armen Sarkissian met with the heads of a number of major companies working in the area of information technology. Present at the meeting were the Director of Synopsis Armenia Ltd. Hovik Mussaelian, founding president and CEO of the Armenia branch of Synergy International Systmes Ashot Hovhanissian, founder and CEO of SoftConstruct company Vigen Badalian, and founder of Globing Ltd. David Harutyunian.

Speaking of economic difficulties, which have appeared and will come up because of the coronavirus pandemic in Armenia and in the world, President Sarkissian said that they are alarming for everyone – from individual entrepreneurs and small startups to big companies. “In Armenia, you represent comparatively large companies. Big doesn’t mean rich and able to overcome this situation,” President Sarkissian said, addressing the participants of the meeting. “Big often means also big problems, big credits, and big responsibility, a big number of employees which can be 1000-3000 families. If there are economic difficulties which impact the company, it is natural that they will impact also these people. It might seem that you have a kind of immunity, are far away from this reality because yours is a virtual world where the people have been able to work remotely from the start. It might seem true. However, it is also wrong because the area you work in will also get restructured or is being restructured at this very moment. There are companies which will go up; there are services which will be in a greater demand; there will be areas which will have much more difficult times.”

The heads of companies presented the situation with their areas conditioned by the pandemic, spoke about adjusting to new trends, use of instruments coherent with the contemporary requirements, noted the engagement of the experts from Diaspora. They also spoke of the opportunities to carry out planned events online.

Responding to the questions of the attendees, President Sarkissian noted, that the pandemic will be followed by the “restart” process, thus each country will have the opportunity to reintroduce itself. “It is critical that we present ourselves properly,” the President said. “Many countries of the world have agencies to boost exports and attract foreign investments. Armenia needs one agency which will work on both direction – export of Armenian goods, assisting you, and, in perspective, to bring from outside inside.” The President said that upon his proposal last year the UNCTAD prepared an investment report on Armenia which mentions also such a structure – a Rapid Response taskforce. “It should be a strong taskforce which will comprise Armenians and foreigners,” the President of Armenia noted and reminded of another important issue – electronic governance. According to the President, the sooner and more areas move to e-governance, the more secured the economy will be. In Armen Sarkissian’s words, the areas, which work for the future and constitute priorities for our country, should also have tax incentives and state support, otherwise they will not be competitive.

Encouraging the IT companies to develop programs for the future, which can be one way of representing Armenia to the world, Armen Sarkissian spoke about presidential initiatives, including the Armenian Summit of Minds and STARMUS festival. “Interest toward the Armenian Summit of Minds, which was to be held in Dilijan under the title ‘Artificial Intelligence and Global Politics’ has doubled. It means that last year’s small success paved the way for holding it again,” the President of Armenia said. The Armenian Summit of Minds is postponed till October. If conditions are unfavorable, it could be held in a smaller format and will be dedicated to pandemics and politics. With STARMUS festival, we have certain success, and most probably, soon there will be the announcement on organizing it in Armenia. I hope that in one year there will be no need for masks, and that the festival will promote also tourism. We are also planning a conference with Horasis-China organization which is scheduled for October with the participation of 50 Chinese companies. As of this moment, it is to take place, but we will see.

What you do is attractive. Your market, beside Armenia, is the entire world. However, to stand firm on your feet, you need to get support in Armenia.”

Among probable difficulties which might occur in the future, President Sarkissian noted food security. “Armenia must work to become as self-sufficient as possible, just like the area you work in, to become also an international trade hub for agricultural produce and goods,” the President said and underlined also the demographic issue. “Many of our compatriots, who work abroad, probably will not find jobs in that countries any more. It will result, subsequently, in unemployment. On the other hand, in certain areas, including agriculture, we have huge potential, uncultivated lands, so there should be encouraging programs to attract people. We also need special policies related to Diaspora. Everyone is patriotic but along with it be attractive for the people to know that by coming to the Fatherland they can use their potential properly. Armenians of Diaspora should feel they are part of this country.”

The President spoke also about works related to the presidential ATOM initiative which is aimed at the development of science and technology areas in Armenia, and noted that there are already preliminary agreements on cooperation with a number of the world’s major technological companies.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the President expressed readiness to assist within the scope of his abilities to the resolution of the existing problems.