Recently the subject of the possible establishment of a Ministry of Information Technology (IT) has become a subject of a heated debate. Yesterday one of the media agencies spread the information according to which Synopsys Armenia director Hovik Musayelyan is a possible candidate for the position of IT Minister. Earlier, a petition signed by executive directors of more than 200 IT companies was submitted to the government. The petition proposed to open a new Ministry of IT. We turned to Hovik Musayelyan for checking the news about his possible appointment as IT Minister of the non formed Ministry.
– About a month ago during an interview with our newspaper you have mentioned that if the IT Ministry was to be formed to deal with various reports and inefficient meetings, then you would be against establishing it. Do your beliefs remain the same?
– Moreover, during this period some processes have taken place, and in that regard the creation of such a ministry is not on agenda at all. In particular, two Deputy Ministers of the Ministry of Economy of RA perform the functions, which regulate the IT sector in general, which, I think, acknowledges the positive standpoint of the Ministry of Economy. In this regard, if we take into account that the Ministry of Transport and Communication of RA has a Deputy Minister, who deals with the telecommunication sector, we can say that there are three Deputy Ministers regulating the IT sector today. In addition, we have IT Development Support Council adjacent to the Prime Minister’s office, Division for Information Technology at the Ministry of Economy and finally Enterprise Incubator Foundation, all of which have a certain role in the IT sector. I think we should try to cooperate with these people and organizations, trying to highlight the problems and find solutions together with them. If after a certain period, we see that there is no progress, then maybe we can have discussions to determine what needs to be done in order to have new approaches and models for the IT field regulations. But today there is no need for the IT Ministry, and we do not have such an agenda, because certain steps were made, and I think in case of the right partnership we can have a positive impact.
– According to yesterday’s publication you have initiated a petition signed by 200 companies with a request to establish IT Ministry. Doesn’t this contradict to your point of view?
– I do not blame them for writing such nonsense, you just need to realize that if people are doing their work and if they are active in public life, then so-called “disinformers" appear and try to discredit those people through various media outlets, assigning them ideas or initiatives they did not do. Moreover, as a director of a foreign company, I am responsible for such actions, and it would be illogical for me as, well as other managers of foreign companies, to sign such a document. Therefore, I have not even signed the petition. Synopsys is not interested in that, and it is illogical that I, as a foreign company director, should sign it. A foreign company does not care if there is IT Ministry in Armenia. A foreign company is interested in business environment in order to carry their work and engineering activity. Our company is more than pleased with the activity and the business environment, which we have here.
– You are actively engaged in social activities, you are a member of the Public Council of Armenia, and you are a Chair of three State Committees. Don’t you see yourself in political processes or administration in future?
– For me, the most important achievements are our company’s achievements both in global business processes and the IT development process in Armenia. I am proud that I am a member of such a business family and have my modest contribution in achievements of our company. The values we adhere at Synopsys, especially the social responsibility and investment in educational programs, should serve as a model for other companies. Initially Synopsys has never planned to have a special mission in any country, including Armenia, because conducting successful business was the most important component in our value system. But since 2004, when Synopsys established its presence in Armenia, it has initiated several programs, which contributed to the development of IT industry, a priority sector for our country economic development. We acknowledge that, I, as a director of company with foreign capital, have a special responsibility to participate in such discussions and to share my opinion, not to say, to sign such petitions. For a foreign company what matters is a country’s business environment and the question of having an IT Ministry. On the contrary, a creation of Ministry is likely to result in more bureaucratic red tape.
– So who is spreading those news?
– Perhaps, people who have some personal ambitions, are the ones blowing smoke. Our company has never been close; we are ready to respond to everyone, to answer all the questions from media. They could have verified their info before publishing it.
Lusine MOVSISYAN