The Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited “Synopsys Armenia” Company. Head of the Government visited the educational and production department of one of the leading enterprises in the sphere of Information Technology, and was introduced to current and potential programs as well as new development initiatives in the sphere of IT. CEOs of the company introduced to the Prime Minister some details on the educational programs implemented in the cooperation model of industry-universities that is carried out along with National Polytechnic University of Armenia and enables to recruit graduates with necessary knowledge and skills in the industry who will integrate with the labor force.
The company also cooperates with YSU, Armenian-Russian (Slavonic) University, and European Regional Academy. It was pointed out, that the graduates as well as majority of students studying at the educational department work in the company, and besides scientific and research works, also establish start-ups.
During his visit to the production department, the functioning of “Synopsys Armenia”, successes recorded and future activities to accomplish were thoroughly introduced to Nikol Pashinyan. They informed that more than 70 new tools for educational programs were installed in the company, and the price of each is about 1.5 mln dollars. The Prime Minister also spoke to students and company employees, found out about their achievements and welcomed the application of new ideas and approaches.
Afterwards, opportunities and trends to implement new programs in the sphere of IT, preparation of high level specialists for the future development of the sphere, necessity to organize respective educational processes were introduced to the Prime Minister.
The executive director attached importance to the development of IT sector and highlighted the fact that it is on the list of priorities of RA Government. Nikol Pashinyan proposed to introduce the “road map” of complex events for the above-mentioned problems to RA Government by precisely mentioning the functions and actions to be taken by the government and the private sector.
The Prime Minister in his speech pointed out: “I am honored to be here. I know that this is the first time we are in the same office space, because usually we were on the same street, same square and I believe that this is a symbolic change in our relationships.
I depicted a symbolic image in my mind: if the welfare of a person in my sight visually increases, it can be due to either corruption or that person works in the sphere of high tech. This is the reason why my attention is concentrated on the problems connected with corruption and high tech. In reality, to be serious and without humor, I see something serious and symbolic in it. On one hand, we see a person saying that it is impossible and nothing will change and on the other hand, we see people in high tech saying that nothing is impossible.
Why do we necessitate high technology (because they go beyond the limits of the impossible) in case of mind and reality? Therefore, what was impossible 10, 20, 30 years ago has become a reality today.
Nowadays, I am sure and hope that there are many things in your mind that are considered impossible for common men but we will make it a reality in 5-10 years and thus will go beyond the limits of the possible with everybody’s”.
Nikol Pashinyan also noticed that the sphere of IT is the essential part of the “emigration” which is the “emigration from the old reality to the new one”, that is to say, from old life to a brand new one. The Prime Minister is sure that this sphere creates a new work culture.
“This new model of “emigration” is essential: we should stay in our country, continue living in our country, should not stay the same but move from one place to another, from one mindset to another one, higher and higher and from one reality to another one” – highlighted Nikol Pashinyan.
The Prime Minister attached importance to the development of the educational sphere as the solution to the problems stems from the “road map” where education has its unique role. “There is no solution to the problem without an educational component. If the solution involves two steps, then one of them is the educational component” – the Prime Minister highlighted.
The leader of the executive body also responded to the position of the government on compulsory contributory pension system. “We know that we inherited a specific situation, a situation when the law should be enforced starting from July 1. Meanwhile, we had little time to do something about it. Our solution does not reflect our global position concerning this problem but it reflects a practical goal to solve it while consulting and working with all interested parties and discussing it without time pressures. And this is the most important note because there are ministers in the government, very honorable and credible who state that this system does not contradict the constitution. Different problems come to the surface and the cornerstone of our approach is that by doing this we save time to discuss this problem accurately and come to terms and to shared decisions.
We had three options and the first one was to postpone the enactment of the law and the reason why we did not apply that tactics was very simple, because the change we have made was called ‘the revolution of love and solidarity’. The principle of solidarity could be breached, because 207000 people who were already in the system no matter the levers been used previously, would have to stay in the same situation as we could do nothing for them or they would think we did not want to help them and we will continue our road with those 80000 citizens not in the system. This way, the solidarity principle would be breached. The next one is: if there was a possibility to abolish the law then why we did not do that. I mentioned different reasons connected with the investment environment in our economy but the most important argument is the following: if we decide to abolish the system as a result of our discussions, we can do that two months later and nobody will lose anything, but if we abolish it now and then think over on the accuracy of our decision, then we cannot recur the process. So, if we make a decision and then consider if it was right or wrong, it can lead to catastrophes.
It is essential to make a decision that is conventionally called “informed decision”. So, we save some time to understand all the details on the representation level and if, for example, we find out in three months that we should abolish it, we can do it after three months and nobody will lose anything as everybody will get their money back till the last penny, including the interest payments. The third option is as follows: leave everything as is, without changing anything. It will mean that we keep pace and tell that we are not going to change or discuss anything. Therefore, we chose the option of showing solidarity and balanced approach towards it.
I believe that the decision is bad for many of those present and I am sorry that I had to make such a decision but this was the most balanced decision on the condition that we have an opportunity and in the coming months we will be able to discuss that issue, make a decision that will be either based on consensus or be close to consensus” – the Prime Minister Pashinyan highlighted.
Leader of the government expressed his gratitude to “Synopsys Armenia” Company for the invitation and organization of this meeting with the representatives of the IT sphere. The Prime Minister was also delighted to see that 30 percent of the company employees were women.
“This information is of political significance, the youth was the moving force of our revolution, but I think that one of the decisive factors leading to our victory was an unprecedented active participation of women in the process. I have already participated in public rallies 28 years in a row and have never seen a public rally where 30-40 percent of people in the square were women. I consider it to be a decisive factor that had changed the situation. I believe that the most decisive was the fact that the processes were peaceful and on another level. I welcome “Synopsys Armenia” company, all the women who made a decision to be active in their profession and in political and civic spheres. I hope that in the future women will comprise a greater proportion in the sphere of management and government. This is the way that will lead us to the whole new level” – Nikol Pashinyan summed up.