Minister of High-Tech Industry highlights AWS European sovereign cloud as combining data security and innovation

The comment by the Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, was included in a statement by Amazon Web Services (AWS) on the launch of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud for the European Union, the ministry said.

The minister emphasized the importance of sovereign cloud infrastructures, noting that they align with Armenia’s vision and ensure data security, promote innovation, and create opportunities for stimulating economic growth.

Hayrapetyan noted that Armenia is also promoting the development of cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure, as well as the ecosystem forming around it. In 2022, the Ministry of High-Tech Industry and AWS signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at promoting the introduction of cloud technologies in Armenia’s public and private sectors and modernizing the country’s state technological infrastructure.

Within the framework of this cooperation, as well as the establishment of the Virtual Institute of Artificial Intelligence, the Armenian government on December 25, 2025 approved a pilot program to provide state support for access to high-performance computing resources in the field of artificial intelligence. The program aims to expand the use of AI solutions and ensure access to high-performance resources in Armenia, with state support of up to 400 million drams.

The ministry said it will continue to support the construction of advanced physical infrastructure in Armenia and the implementation of the government’s “Cloud First” initiative.

Earlier, Amazon Web Services announced the launch of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud for the EU. The new cloud environment is fully located and managed within the European Union, in compliance with EU regulations, and is physically and architecturally separate from other AWS regions.

According to the ministry, the initiative aims to provide enhanced protection of sensitive data and metadata, ensure full data localization within the EU, and guarantee operational and legal independence in line with the digital sovereignty requirements of European countries.

The Sovereign Cloud is designed specifically for state agencies, strategic sectors, and highly regulated industries, while maintaining full access to AWS’s advanced cloud and artificial intelligence capabilities.

AWS also announced the expansion of its sovereign cloud infrastructure from Germany to other EU countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal. The expansion is intended to ensure full localization of infrastructure, metadata, and data across the EU and to support the deployment of fast and efficient solutions in real time.

Within the framework of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, AWS Partner companies are prepared to provide solutions both within the new sovereign cloud and its broader ecosystem. Among the initial partners are Accenture, adesso, Adobe, Arvato Systems, Atos, Capgemini, Dedalus, Deloitte, Genysys, Kyndryl, Mistral AI, msg group, NVIDIA, SAP, SoftwareOne, and others.

The launch of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud has received broad support at the European and international levels. High-ranking officials from several countries have welcomed the initiative, highlighting its significance for Europe’s digital sovereignty, data and metadata security, and innovation-driven development.