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U.S. AMBASSADOR'S HINT TO ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT
The U.S. Ambassador made an interesting statement during the opening
of Digitech Business Forum held the sixth year running. Mr. Heffern
said that he attends the forum for the second time running. Ambassador
Heffern said that the United States has a big role in the IT sector
development in Armenia because the Armenian companies cooperate
closely with Armenian partners. At the same time, he commented on
the government policy on this sector.
He advised the government to keep a distance from the IT sector
as they want to cooperate with their colleagues without having the
government on their way.
Apparently, the U.S. ambassador does not expect that this government
will ever do anything good for the development of the Armenian
economy. And this government is expected not to hinder.
Perhaps, the ambassador is tired of inquiring about Carrefour. The
government never answers his questions. There are assurances made by
the government but there is no Carrefour, there is no competition.
Instead, the monopolist Samvel Alexanyan continues to conquer more
and more retail territories.
Hence, there is nothing left to do but to call the government to keep
off the IT sector instead of inquiring about Carrefour. Keeping off
has a very specific meaning. The IT sector is the only sector where
the oligarchs have not reached. Perhaps this is the reason why the
sector gets significant Western investments, so-called intellectual
investments. The absence of the oligarchy in the IT sphere helps ensure
steady growth, demand for high-quality specialists. The sector is far
from the desirable strategic level but the tendency is positive, and
most probably any intervention of the government stands for oligarchic
intervention to the U.S. ambassador because the precedents show that
whatever the government does, the oligarchy benefits. So, logically,
the ambassador wants the government to keep off the IT sector which
is enough to maintain the steady growth of the sector.
Apparently, the U.S. ambassador hints that if the government does its
job and refrains from intervention, he will do the rest. Recently he
has been actively working for attracting investments to Armenia in
order to create a favorable climate for the key wealth of Armenia,
the intellectual potential.
Last December the ambassador accompanied Prime Minister Sargsyan to
the United States. At that time, several agreements were said to have
been reached but there are no news. Perhaps the condition is not to
let the government hinder.
The IT sector is becoming a priority in the context of developments
in the energy sector. After another punitive application of the
Russian gas Armenia started thinking about alternative energy,
energy saving etc. It is directly linked to the IT sector because it
requires innovation.
This is a political issue as well. Growth of innovative economy will
lead to significant changes in the structure of the economy, weakening
the share and political influence of the oligarchic capital. At the
same time, alternative sources of energy will boost Armenia's immune
system against the Russian gas disease and open up more opportunities
for Armenia for an independent policy.
And it takes very little from the Armenian government - just keep off.
Although, one of the key features of the Armenian government is to
limit all the tendencies which will jeopardize the status quo of
the oligarchy.
James Hakobyan 14:36 21/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30244
The U.S. Ambassador made an interesting statement during the opening
of Digitech Business Forum held the sixth year running. Mr. Heffern
said that he attends the forum for the second time running. Ambassador
Heffern said that the United States has a big role in the IT sector
development in Armenia because the Armenian companies cooperate
closely with Armenian partners. At the same time, he commented on
the government policy on this sector.
He advised the government to keep a distance from the IT sector
as they want to cooperate with their colleagues without having the
government on their way.
Apparently, the U.S. ambassador does not expect that this government
will ever do anything good for the development of the Armenian
economy. And this government is expected not to hinder.
Perhaps, the ambassador is tired of inquiring about Carrefour. The
government never answers his questions. There are assurances made by
the government but there is no Carrefour, there is no competition.
Instead, the monopolist Samvel Alexanyan continues to conquer more
and more retail territories.
Hence, there is nothing left to do but to call the government to keep
off the IT sector instead of inquiring about Carrefour. Keeping off
has a very specific meaning. The IT sector is the only sector where
the oligarchs have not reached. Perhaps this is the reason why the
sector gets significant Western investments, so-called intellectual
investments. The absence of the oligarchy in the IT sphere helps ensure
steady growth, demand for high-quality specialists. The sector is far
from the desirable strategic level but the tendency is positive, and
most probably any intervention of the government stands for oligarchic
intervention to the U.S. ambassador because the precedents show that
whatever the government does, the oligarchy benefits. So, logically,
the ambassador wants the government to keep off the IT sector which
is enough to maintain the steady growth of the sector.
Apparently, the U.S. ambassador hints that if the government does its
job and refrains from intervention, he will do the rest. Recently he
has been actively working for attracting investments to Armenia in
order to create a favorable climate for the key wealth of Armenia,
the intellectual potential.
Last December the ambassador accompanied Prime Minister Sargsyan to
the United States. At that time, several agreements were said to have
been reached but there are no news. Perhaps the condition is not to
let the government hinder.
The IT sector is becoming a priority in the context of developments
in the energy sector. After another punitive application of the
Russian gas Armenia started thinking about alternative energy,
energy saving etc. It is directly linked to the IT sector because it
requires innovation.
This is a political issue as well. Growth of innovative economy will
lead to significant changes in the structure of the economy, weakening
the share and political influence of the oligarchic capital. At the
same time, alternative sources of energy will boost Armenia's immune
system against the Russian gas disease and open up more opportunities
for Armenia for an independent policy.
And it takes very little from the Armenian government - just keep off.
Although, one of the key features of the Armenian government is to
limit all the tendencies which will jeopardize the status quo of
the oligarchy.
James Hakobyan 14:36 21/06/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30244