Armenia—with its highly educated population, an entrepreneurial spirit, a legacy of research and development during Soviet times, and high growth digital sector—can become a technology hub or “Silicon Mountain” in the region.
According to the Enterprise Incubator Foundation, in 2012, Armenia exported $120 million worth of IT software and services, mostly to the U.S., Canada, and the European Union. There were about 360 IT companies in Armenia, with an average annual growth of 23 perce
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Tremendous articles ! Actions like these will be the seeds that will put us on the map. The technology sector is heaven sent to Armenians as Edward Keonjian predicted some 50 years ago when he began working in America. The opportunity must be expanded to diasporans that will bring valuable supply and demand chain benefits with leveraged goals and vision.
Dear Sassoon,
Reassuring article! Great to see how Armenian tech achievements are reflected here. We, at Gyumri IT Center, are proud to be part of the major breakthrough in developing IT further in Armenia, in the city of Gyumri. Opened in 2005, we have trained more than 200 young Gyumretsis, and supported the openings of a number of IT companies in this city. We will be thankful to read about GITC and Gyumri in your future articles – about Armenia 2d city, Gyumri as main future hub for IT industry in Armenia.
For more details you can go to our site: http://www.gitc.am.
Thank you
Yes, Amalya is correct – the city of Gyumri is the new IT engine for Armenia. We here at DigitalPomegranate.com have invested a great deal with fantastic results. The new Gyumri Tech Center is another huge plus for startups and foreign investments.
We are so happy that we are opening another company focused on App development using LiveCode. iTechnology.am, Armenia’s leading tech magazine, which is based in Gyumri and recently dedicated an entire issue to LiveCode and Armenia: http://www.itechnology.am/livecode-issue-may-2014/
–Todd
A very positive and encouraging article. One of the most valuable assets RoA has is its youth and their intellectual capacity. How we keep them in Armenia is another complex issue.
However, without throwing cold water on the idea, or discouraging the further development or nourishemnt of the efforts, US Armenian-American citizens have to be cautious.
The concern is the following: The US Dept of Commerce, under ” US Export Administration” regulations, has Armenia blacklisted. The Blacklist includes ex USSR republics and a number of rogue countries. This basically prohibits any contact, dialogue or exchange by a US Citizen or US Company with an Armenian ounterpart, without going through a complicated process to get permission/exemption to do so.
It is not an insermountable obstacle, but work need to be done to have the restrictions on Armenia eliminated. ANCA definetly can work on this.
Vart Adjemian