Tuesday, 10 June 2008
The IT Development Support Council by the Government met in extended session at the Office of Government under the chairmanship of council chairman, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.
The meeting agenda featured discussion of ways for steering the IT sector, meeting development challenges ahead and preparing a relevant concept note. As proposed by council membership, the session agenda comprised items regarding the use of both satellite dishes and Armenia
's incoming optical fiber cable, as well as the possibility of having the State's support in the activities aimed at developing an Armenian language-supported Internet environment.Regarding the modalities for steering the IT sector, the Ministry of Economy was reported to have been chosen on the basis of interested discussions as the coordinating authority responsible for the development of the IT sector in Armenia. RA Minister of Economy Nerces Yeritzyan outlined the mechanisms for sector coordination, including the ways and possibilities for eventual cooperation between the Council, the ministries concerned and the private sector.
Available at the official website of RA Ministry of Economy, the concept note on the development of the IT sector, too, has been presented in detail by the Minister of Economy who also spoke about the comments and proposals received to that effect. Those in attendance of the extended session expressed their views, comments and suggestions concerning the two first agenda items. It was decided to take the concept note as a basis for future discussions.
In connection with the use of satellite dishes, the Prime Minister issued instructions for appropriate action without detriment to entrepreneurship and in all publicity.
Due to limited capacity offered by the optical fiber cable extending from the State border as far as the central regions of the Republic, the Ministry of Transport and Communications was told to come up with relevant proposals within a week
's time and submit a report at the next session of the Council.With reference to the next agenda item, namely the possibility of having the State
's support in the activities aimed at developing an Armenian language-supported Internet environment, it was decided to hold another discussion with the RA Minister of Economy concerning such a possibility.Summing up the meeting, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stressed the importance of the action plan under the IT sector development concept note. It has been decided to hold the council meetings more frequently in future. Accordingly, the next meeting will be held within a month to provide for a more operational discussion of the outstanding agenda.
