OREANDA-NEWS  On 06 November was announced, that the Global Innovation Forum for Education and Development (GIFED) took place in Armenia Marriott Hotel on October 21-24, 2008. Forum was designed for students and young entrepreneurs and aimed at engagement of young people from around the world for presentation of new ways and developing ideas and further implementation of those ideas in Armenia and other developing countries.

The discussions have been focused on main 3 objectives: open access, connectivity and local human capacity.

About 145 young people form Armenia, Hungary, Malaysia, UK, Canada, Germany, Ukraine, USA and Uganda participated at the Forum.

On October 21, at the opening ceremony, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan welcomed the participants with the opening speech. "An exceptional Forum is taking place today in Armenia, which is organized by the UN direct participation and assistance.

Lots of representatives from different countries participate at this Forum, and collaborating with Armenian young people, they will discuss the innovative solutions and new approaches in the modern world, and also the ideas that we could implement in Armenia…During the Forum we must try together to reveal the existing potential in Armenia, determine the instruments and technologies in the education system: to promote the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)…We must settle the environment, that supports creativity and innovations",- said Tigran Sargsyan.

Mr. Sarbuland Khan, the Executive Director of the UN Global Alliance for ICT also occurred with a welcoming speech. Giving the UN General Secretary's regards to participants of the Forum, he expressed hope, saying that: "If the youth will take the leadership, the world will develop progressively…In up-to-date world the projects realisation terms are less important, than successful ideas and people, who accept those ideas".

Nerses Yeritsyan, the RA Minister of Economy assured in his speech that: "Armenia can become a technological lab for the world, where new ideas will be created and developed in the whole world…Armenia can become an exemplary country for global youth, where all the research works and entrepreneurship skills education will be concentrated and will help to enlarge the information and communication opportunities and access to information in developing countries, under the patronage of the developed countries and UN".

On October 22, Cheick Sidi Diara, the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries addressed the participants of the Forum. "This Forum provides large opportunities for revealing the edges for cooperation and supporting the open dialog in IT sphere. The innovation plays an important role in this sphere, and knowledge is a determining factor for competitiveness…Without information society high technological achievements cannot provide for sustainable and aggressive development of the country…The activities with young people have grate importance. The establishment of IT society, development of interactive learning and creation of possibilities for virtual learning and working are also relevant for youth.", - said the UN Under-Secretary-General.

Mr. Cheick Sidi Diarra visited also the RA Ministry of Economy and had discussions with the Minister Nerses Yeritsyan. The future trends of the Armenian economic development, reforming processes and wide – national programs of the Armenian Government, and the framework of the cooperation with UN were discussed during the meeting. Mr. Yeritsyan stressed the directions, where support and assistance of UN is expected the most: establishment of new infrastructures, balanced development of the rural communities, implementation of the electronic governance system, access to regional communication network, etc.

The UN Under-Secretary-General expressed preparedness to provide assistance within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals and proposed to activate the participation in the programs provided for the landlocked developing countries.

After the meeting, the Press Conference of Cheick Sidi Diarra and Nerses Yeritsyan took place at the Ministry of Economy.

In his opening speech, the Armenian Minister of Economy said: "Armenia is loyal to the UN developing programs and will strive to occupy a fitting place in IT and communications sphere. Our country will serve as an example for other developing countries… We must help our citizens to own the innovations and entrepreneurship, and the knowledge is the only way to achieve it". The Forum serves as good opportunity for exchange of knowledge, and the expression - "young people are the agents for changes" reflects the aims of the event, organized in Yerevan and could become а slogan for the Forum.

Mr. Diarra shared with journalists with his impressions about the reforming process in Armenia and the persistence of the leaders to turn Armenia to a country with knowledge based economy and added that UN is ready to support Armenia to reach its goals. He assured that Armenia will be included in the group of landlocked countries, which will provide the opportunity to get support from the UN. And even if Armenia surprises with high indexes of education, according to the words of Mr. Diarra, there is a long way of development for becoming a competitive country, with knowledge based economy.

On October 22, Mr. Cheick Sidi Diarra had meetings with Serj Sargsyan, RA President, Hovik Abrahamyan, RA President of the National Assembly, Gegham Gharibjanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Diarra visited the Mother Cathedral Saint Ejmiatsin, and was received by Garegin B, Catholicos of all Armenians.

At the same day, Tigran Sargsyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia had a dinner with Mr. Diarra.

On October 24, the concluding session of the Global Innovation Forum for Education and Development took place.

In concluding remarks Nerses Yeritsyan underlined that during last four days lots of productive activities have been done. He assured, that the Armenian government will continue to support young people's initiatives. "More than 100 Armenian young leaders think in a new way and ready to design unique approaches, and it is a real value for us. The Forum's participants have demonstrated and proved that Armenia can be conductive to IT development in the whole world. Armenia, as well as our youth have that potential. We have a powerful mental capacity and must use appropriately – in Armenia's favour", - said Nerses Yeritsyan.

The Executive Director of UN Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies Development Mr. Sarbuland Khan in his speech emphasized the high level of the event due to Armenian Prime Minister's participation and the Armenian Government's commitment and assistance. He thanked all the organizers and participants of the Forum, mentioning with gratitude that all the goals are achieved.

Organizers:

Ministry of Economy of RA, UN Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development (UN GAID), UN e-Leaders Committee, Athgo International.

Partnership:

Enterprise Incubator Foundation, Astro-Malaysia, Ericsson AG, Fundacion Cisneros, Microsoft Corporation, Qualcomm Company.