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A senior Armenian official said on Friday that the country already has “its place” in the global semiconductor supply chain.
Ruben Simonyan, the Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry, speaking at the State & Tech Bridge forum, noted that although Armenia cannot engage in mass production, it plays an important role in the design, assembly, and final production phases.
The country aims to solidify its stable role in this chain and strengthen its position through international memorandums, he said.
The official also emphasized the importance of AI and the need for specialized training.
“We have a lot to do,” he said. “We need to focus on a constant supply of talent, especially electrical engineers and AI specialists. It is crucial to master not only mathematics, physics, and data science, but also AI tools and digital skills to increase productivity.”
Authorities are currently working to further streamline import and export procedures, he added.
“As a result of Act 808 from May 2023, export procedures became more complex. Companies must first apply for analysis, and only then can they approach the Ministry of Economy, a process that could take one to two months. We are working to create a validated system where the analysis of reliable companies will be conducted post-factum. The same applies to imports, as some raw materials lack the respective codes, and the classifications can take months, rendering the materials potentially useless. These issues are currently being discussed with the State Revenue Committee,” he said.
Simonyan concluded that Armenia should use the current challenges as opportunities to strengthen its position in the global semiconductor and tech markets.