ArmInfo.The main task facing the government today is to stop the outflow of talents from Armenia and facilitate their return to the country by creating favorable conditions. This was announced during the final press conference on November 24 by the acting president. Minister of Transport, Communications and IT Hakob Arshakyan.
He canceled that good specialists, as a rule, go where they can realize themselves, in particular, where the technologies of the future are present, where there are innovations and a high level of scientific research. According to the Acting Minister, the government is already working towards attracting talent to the country. In particular, he said that over the past 6 months 2 companies entered the Armenian market, due to which about $ 30 million were invested and 70 jobs created. Approved a bill on preferential tax treatment for startups in the field of IT. At the same time, as A. Arshakyan noted, Google Merchant Account was activated in Armenia. "As a result, the turnover of IT companies has increased by 20% over this period," he stressed.
The Minister also reported on a number of ongoing programs in the field of IT, which are on the agenda. In this vein, he called the creation of a venture capital investment fund, the implementation of the engineering city program, a program to promote the construction of technology parks in the country's regions, financing of engineering research programs, including in the military-industrial complex, a grant program with international partners. At the same time, according to him, a summit and the International IT Congress are expected to be held in Armenia.
Returning to the results of the domestic IT sphere, A. Arshayakn noted that over the past 7 years (2010- 2017), the turnover in the field of high technologies has increased by 5 times, and he named the United States as the main markets for the sale of IT goods and services, noting that in recent years there has been an activity towards the European and Russian markets.
According to the National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia, by the end of 2017, the Armenian IT sector grew by 13.6%, ensuring annual revenue of 269.1 billion drams ($ 557.5 million). According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, 80.1% of the total revenue of the IT sector accounted for the services provided, with an annual growth of 6.5% to 215.5 billion drams.