cted in shops, but electronic trade infrastructure is already being set up to create conditions for online trade. The Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE) is doing work in this direction. The UITE is now implementing a program aimed at promoting electronic trade in Armenia. "The purpose of the program is to gradually move physical shops to virtual reality", said UNITE Executive Director Karen Vardanyan, adding that for this purpose three important steps should be taken: creation of a favorable environment and a management body, and encouraging young people to set up their own businesses. According to K. Vardanyan, during the sitting of the Council for Information Technology Development Support held on November 30 of last year and chaired by the Armenian Prime Minister, the Union presented customs and tax problems related to the organization of electronic trade in Armenia, as well as proposals concerning their solution. Based on these proposals, an attempt is made - through electronic trade - to solve domestic problems related to sale of products and services, exports of Armenian goods, and delivery of foreign goods to Armenia. "As a result of this work, each Armenian citizen will feel the positive effect of electronic trade in a year," K. Vardanyan assured us, noting that Armenia's electronic trade infrastructure is still in embryo. The UITE director said that the Union also provides advisory services, organizes the IT sector-related events for various age groups, creates a favorable environment by uniting similar structures, and in general promotes the development of Armenia's IT sector. The number of the UITE member companies is rapidly growing: it reached 58 in early 2012. Among the Union members are local and foreign organizations that specialize in software development, Internet technology, electronic trade, etc. The Noyan Tapan Highlights

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