Armsoft says IT sphere of Armenia on verge of collapse, EIF strongly disagrees

YEREVAN, June 1. /ARKA/. The CEO of ARMSOFT, one of the Armenian largest IT companies, Ashot Khachatryan said Thursday that the sphere of information technologies in Armenia is on the verge of collapse. 

“ARMSOFT company has been operating in IT sphere for already 25 years… We have over 300 clients, amid which there are most of the banks, credit organizations, private and public enterprises of Armenia… Our company replenishes the budget with great amount of money, and it is one of the country’s major taxpayers per employee… Now we are stating with pain that IT sphere in Armenia is on the verge on collapse,” he said in his statement. 

In the statement, Khachatryan also claims against Enterprises Incubator Foundation, EIF.

“Enterprises Incubator Foundation, EIF has been operating in Armenia for 20 years… We give quite a negative assessment to their activity which is funded by our paid taxes. ARMSOFT company claims the government of Armenia to form an independent financial and professional audit of EIF activity over the past 10 years. The audit should be also open to enter for all IT enterprises of Armenia,” he states. 

Commenting on the reasons which caused IT sphere of Armenia to appear on the verge of collapse Khachatryan told ARKA that if 10 years ago IT companies could easily find 50 workers, now they can hardly hire 5-6 employees. 

“Several hundreds of specialists are leaving Armenian annually. I see the sphere today is exsanguinated. Instead of this IT community is today discussing and lobbying the idea of founding Ministry of Innovation in Armenia, which is, of course, absurdity, but it is already another issue. I just want to say that the way IT sphere is assessed today by some organizations like UITE and EIF doesn’t reveal the reality. We are not satisfied with those excellent annual indices, presented to us. For example, they (UITE and EIF) state that the sphere reported 30% growth ( in 2011), but they don’t unveil details of this growth. Does it refer to software, Internet, computer sales due to Internet advance, or tablets and iPhones?” he added. 

On his side, EIF head Bagrat Yengibaryan reported to ARKA that he doesn’t understand the claims made against his fund by Khachatryan. 

“In compliance with the Armenian legislature related to funds, EIF passes the mandatory financial and comprehensive audit which is later published by press. Moreover, we are also audited by the donor organizations and the government, as we have different sources for financing, and we implement various join programs,” Yengibaryan commented. 

Moreover, according to him, the full and detailed information about the fund is also available on the website of the company. 

“ I can’t understand his ( Khachatryan’s) claims, for us it is offensive. We have never worked with them before, that is why I exclude any case of personal motivation. We respect them, as it is one of IT companies in Armenia,” he said.

Yengibaryan also strongly disagreed with Khachatryan on IT sphere’s collapsing fact.

“Certainly, the IT sphere has some issues, which are mostly challenges, but it is wrong to say that this sphere is on the verge of collapse. If it was like that, NOKIA company, for instance, would never open its regional mobile lab (mLab) in Armenia, and I can give many other examples like that related to IT sphere,” he resumed. 

In 2000, Armenia’s government declared IT sphere as a priority of the country’s economy. Today, nearly 350 enterprises with 10,000 employees operate and work in ICT sphere of Armenia.

According to UITE, IT sphere in Armenia reported 30% growth totaling in $205 million in 2011 from a year earlier. --0--