Tajik officials observe best practices of Armenian IT campuses in OSCE-organized study visit

A study visit to Armenia for Tajik state officials was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe from 15 to 19 April 2019. The aim of the study visit was to provide the officials with the opportunity to learn about innovative strategies for economic growth.

A group of six representatives from the Executive Office of the President of Tajikistan, the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, the State Committee of Investment and the State Property Management, the Administration of Dushanbe city and the Sifat Innotech Invest Company took part in the visit.

The study tour began with visits to Synergy International, Microsoft Armenia, Microsoft Innovation Center, Tumo, Synopsis and technological centres along with the Enterprise Incubator Foundation. The delegations shared their respective experience and used the opportunity to inform each other on steps currently being taken to promote a comprehensive policy-oriented approach towards digitalization of economy in both countries.

The Tajik delegation had meetings and onsite visits in Yerevan as well as to technological centres in Gyumri and Vanadzor. The delegation familiarized itself with the benefits of digital platforms and their utilization, which are widening opportunities of infrastructure development.

“Familiarization with the digital infrastructure in Armenia was a unique experience for us, where we learned the strategy and tactics of transforming the economy into a digital format,” noted Manizha Muhammad, Director of Sifat Innotech Invest Company. “As a representative of the private sector, which is involved in the development of the digital transformation of Tajikistan, our company plays a leading role in developing software for ministries and departments of the country. Moreover, this study visit served as a platform for co-operation with the representatives of state institutions of our country with whom we will work in the future to digitize the economy.”

The visit was a good opportunity for establishing collaboration with Armenian IT campuses, centers for creative technologies and techno parks, in order to learn about innovated strategies. The members of the Tajik delegation also took note of the role of education in the field of information technologies taking place in Armenia for youth.