Karen Vardanyan: internal and external restrictions detain IT development in Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Union of IT Enterprises (UITE) has prepared an initiative on the amendments to RA law on control over the export of goods and dual-purpose technologies.

As Karen Vardanyan, UITE executive director, said during IT leaders’ forum in Aghveran, the project should be approved by RA Ministry of Economy and RA State Revenue Committee. “Main suggestions relate to service costs for expert assessment of the product, as well as determination of dual-purpose product lists,” he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

In addition to internal obstacles, IT development in Armenia is detained by some international restrictions. Thus, according to EU government’s decree, Armenia is included in the list of “unreliable” countries; EU states are forbidden to export analytical equipment or its components to countries listed, Karen Vardanyan said.

Azerbaijan, China, Congo, Sudan, Somali, North Korea and other countries are also included in the list.

“I consider it unacceptable, as Armenia is an EU partner within the framework of European Neighborhood policy. USA does not envisage such prohibitions for Armenia. And if we seek to develop technologically, we should be able to import updated equipment,” he added.