Yerevan, April 3, Noyan Tapan. Encouraging Regional Cooperation through Information Technology two day conference started its work on April 2 in Yerevan. Representatives of information and communication technology spheres of Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Turkey participate in the conference. According to deputy minister of economy Vahe Danielian, the conference is organized by the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in the fringes of Armenian semi-annual Chairmanship. The main purpose of the conference is to expand current cooperation and establish new ties between representatives of ICT spheres of participating countries, promote innovation sphere and assist to technological advancement. The preliminary works have started a year ago. According to Mr. Danielian, development of information technology is regarded as an urgent topic world-wide and that was the main incentive of organizing the conference. In addition, the government of Armenia considers the success of country's IT industry as a prerequisite for turning Armenia into an excellence center. The government of Armenia considers e-governance and information society, as well as, eLearning and Secondary Schools Connectivity Networks (particularly, such initiatives as «Computers for Everybody) as primary for country's Information Technology Sphere. The government belives that in future, IT and high technology spheres of the country can become «big laboratories for the global market," told Danielian. The conference is organized by the ministries of economy, foreign affairs and Enterprise Incubator Foundation. According to Bagrat Yengibarian, director of EIF, IT sphere in the world has largely suffered from the global economic crisis. He articulated the urgency of cooperation and exchange of good practices in the sphere of information technology. In particular, according to him, new approaches to IT would enable other spheres of economy to release the consequences of the crises by, for instance, cutting expenses. According to Engibarian, Armenian IT companies, which have targeted proper markets, have increased their jobs and turnovers. He emphasized the importance of further penetration of the Armenian IT companies into new markets. On a commission from prime minister state bodies jointly with the private sector are elaborating new ways of positioning of these companies on the new markets, mentioned Mr. Yengibarian. According to his estimation, the strongest competitive advantage of Armenia's IT sphere is its intellectual power and comparatively cheap labor force. Encouraging Regional Cooperation through Information Technology Conference has the following sections. Impact of Crisis, IT outsourcing, Trade Promotion, IT Policies of Countries, "e-Society", "IT based Education", "Human Resource Development".

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