YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Microsoft company wishes that in 2010, 15-20 thouasand people would be engaged in Armenia's IT sector and they would bring annual revenues of 150 million dollars. Paul Muckleston, Director of Microsoft's Business Management and Strategy Center, stated this at the April 10 conference "Microsoft Innovation Day" in Yerevan. Presenting the goals of the company's 2007-2011 activities in Armenia, he said that one of these goals is to reduce, in cooperation with partners, the level of software piracy from 95% to 60%. In his words, on April 9 the Armenian prime minister Serge Sargsian approved the composition of the interdepartmental working group which jointly with Microsoft will implement the provisions of the cooperation agreement signed with the Armenian government in February 2007. Prticularly, within the next 1.5 years Microsoft will take joint steps with the Armenian government in order to establish a Microsoft Innovation Center in Armenia. According to Microsoft's official, the company has the opportunity to promote the activities of up to 50 enterprises engaged in development of software packages in Armenia, and these enterprises will be able to export their software developed with Microsoft technologies. According to his estimates, it is possible to certify about 250 companies by Microsoft procedures, which will allow to create about 2,000 jobs. It was noted that 95% of Microsoft's revenues form through partner-enterprises engaged in software development. P. Muckleston underlined that studies conducted in 40 countries show that each dollar invested by the company brings Microsoft's partners revenues of 15 dollars. He expressed a hope that the company's Armenian branch - Microsoft RA company "will be a respected enterprise in 2010". According to Paul Muckleston, in 2006, production of about 90 million dollars was made in the Armenian IT sector, which was three times as much as three years ago. In 2006, 4,000 people worked and 150 companies operated in the sector. 80% of production made this year has been exported. 65% of companies were set up with foreign investments, and this index has the tendency to grow. About 150 representatives of the Armenian government, as well as of business and scientific circles attended the event.

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