Armenia’s High-Tech Sector is Booming – Belgian Company TEXAF Sees Strong Potential for Cooperation

Armenia’s high-tech, industrial, and innovation sectors are booming, making remarkable progress at a rapid pace. The expertise developed by Armenian companies is increasingly recognized as a valuable asset with global relevance.

In an interview with Armenpress, Gérald Croonenberghs—member of a visiting delegation organized by the Belgium-Armenia Chamber of Commerce and representative of the Belgian-listed company TEXAF—expressed strong interest in potential cooperation between his company and Armenia.

Croonenberghs explained that TEXAF, founded in 1925, currently operates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

“TEXAF used to be a textile factory until 2007. Today, the group focuses on three main activities: real estate development—where we build and lease commercial and residential properties; a stone quarry serving the construction sector; and, since 2020, a growing presence in the digital economy. We’ve transformed a 30,000-square-meter land bank into a smart city called Silikin Village, which includes a campus dedicated to training young entrepreneurs in coding and digital skills, as well as incubation and acceleration programs and services to support foreign companies looking to establish themselves in the DRC,” he explained.

He added that Silikin Village also hosts the first Tier III-certified data center in the DRC, a critical infrastructure that supports the growing demand for secure digital services and cloud computing in the region.

According to TEXAF, Silikin Village is currently the largest coworking space in Central Africa.

Speaking about the purpose of his visit, Croonenberghs said he was invited to Yerevan by the Belgium-Armenia Chamber of Commerce to explore Armenia’s dynamic high-tech landscape, which he described as “blooming.”

“I had the opportunity to visit the TUMO Creative Technologies Center, FAST (Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology), Formula VC, and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry. We discussed potential synergies between Armenia and the DRC—particularly around knowledge-sharing between innovation ecosystems—and explored how Armenian start-ups and scale-ups could engage with African markets,” he said.

“We could even organize a learning expedition to the DRC, giving Armenian companies a chance to explore opportunities to expand or develop their businesses in Africa.”

Highlighting areas of potential collaboration, Croonenberghs pointed to the rapid development of Armenia’s IT and industrial sectors, supported by significant public and private investment.

“What struck me is how both the Armenian government and private sector are investing heavily in the country’s high-tech future. From training centers like TUMO to the growing presence of global tech firms, there’s a clear and coordinated strategy. That kind of collaboration is crucial for long-term success,” he noted.

He emphasized the relevance of Armenia’s training models for the DRC. “What impresses me most are the training initiatives focused on building future talent—something equally essential in the DRC. I’d love to see AI programs or even the TUMO model replicated in Congo. A franchise could be an option—TUMO is already present in several countries, so why not in the DRC?”

Croonenberghs pointed out that the DRC has a population of over 100 million, with approximately 17 million in the capital, Kinshasa.

“Of those 17 million, almost 50% are under the age of 25. That’s a tremendous pool of untapped talent. If we want to mirror the kind of high-tech development seen in Armenia, training this generation is critical,” he explained. “Armenia is on the right path and can serve as a model and source of inspiration for many countries, including those in Africa.”

He also expressed appreciation for the quality of the meetings and discussions held throughout his visit.

“I truly appreciated the time and openness extended to us during our exploration of Armenia’s innovation ecosystem. The Ministry of High-Tech Industry shared a well-articulated and inspiring vision for the country’s technological future,” he said.

Reflecting on Belgium-Armenia relations, Croonenberghs praised the proactive efforts of the Belgium-Armenia Chamber of Commerce in strengthening bilateral ties but believes more potential remains untapped.

“There are real opportunities and synergies between our two countries that deserve further exploration,” he said.

“Armenia has exceptional talent, and Belgium has deep expertise. Combining those strengths could generate powerful success stories. Personally, I’d be interested in connecting local business engineering programs with Belgian investors. It’s a promising step for the growth and international reach of Armenia’s high-tech sector,” Croonenberghs concluded.