YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The "President of the Republic of Armenia Awards" were handed to 30 best students and pupils in Armenia's IT industry on September 29. 23 students from various Armenian universities and the European Regional Academy and 7 ones from technical educational institutions received the 2009 awards. This year "The Best Diaspora Armenian Student" has been added to the list of categories, with awards being given to female student of State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA) Vartan Maral Gnuni from Iraq and student of Yerevan State University (YSU) Arada Malekian from Iran. In the words of Rich Goldman, Vice President for Strategic Market Development of Synopsys Company, the best students in the IT industry will become the leaders to promote Armenia's progress. "We should develop an excellent engineering future in Armenia and link the country with the world via the Internet and information technologies," he stated. Highlighting the importance of these awards, General Manager of Synopsys Armenia CJSC Hovik Musaelian said that "in fact, we are creating our future economic, scientific-technical and political gene pool". RA Minister of Diaspora Ms. Hranush Hakobian noted that the people from both Armenia and the Diaspora represent the natural resource of our country because the knowledge, skills and experience of the whole Armenian people should be used in the name of strengthening the homeland and ensuring its progress. RA Minister of Science and Education Armen Ashotian told reporters that while attaching importance to the IT sector, the state must focus its attention first of all on the sphere of education because it is highly qualified experts that will secure the competitive advantage of this or that branch of the economy.

---