Ministry of Transport, communications and information technologies

2016

Problem solving of the IT sphere passed since fall of 2016 from the Ministry of Economics of Armenia to Mintransporta. New department began to be called the Ministry of Transport, communication and information technologies.

The new Minister of Transport and Communications is appointed by the decree of the president of Armenia. The previous head of department Gagik Beglaryan was replaced by Vaan Martirosyan. Department will be engaged also in problem solving, the high technologies connected with the industry – and^[1] will be called the Ministry of Transport, communication and information technologies^[2].

Earlier the Ministry of Economics (after shifts in the government it was renamed into the Ministry of Economic Development and investments) was responsible for the IT sphere. Specialists said long ago that it is necessary to create special government institution which would deal with problems of the industry of high technologies.

The new minister came from the IT industry – Vaan Martirosyan worked in Rostelecom. Till 2012 he was the owner of the Armenian company GNC-Alfa which 75% of shares for $22 million in February, 2012 were taken by Rostelecom. Martirosyan, however under the agreement was the owner of the remained 25%, he had to sell them to same Rostelecom within six years. Now Martirosyan is a chairman of the board Rostelecom Armenia. Local media write that the new head of department is well familiar with recently appointed prime minister Karen Karapetyan, however Martirosyan evasively comments on the relations with the prime minister.

The new minister promised to provide the program in the nearest future. Meanwhile, specialists state the encouraging forecasts. According to them, the fact that the updated ministry was headed by the representative of the industry, says that the state intends to be engaged in the IT sphere seriously. The founder and the managing director of Global IR company Gevorg Pogosyan considers that experience of the head of department will help to lift the Armenian IT industry to new level and will give an impetus to information technology development in the country. However to do forecasts so far early, he says.

On statistical data for 2015, in Armenia about 500 IT companies work. The information technology sphere grows annually for 20−25%. Its turnover is estimated at $550 million. And according to the strategy of development for the industry, by 2018 turnover is going to increase to $1 billion. In 2019 in the country there will take place the largest action of the IT industry – the World congress on information technologies (WCIT).

More detailed IT market of Armenia.

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