The program on “IT and Entrepreneurship SkillImprovement among Unemployed Population to Promote the Economic Development of Armenian Regions”, implemented by Jinishian Memorial Foundation and funded by HSBC Group, was launched remotely on 26 June, 2020.

The overall budget of the program is USD149,000, of which USD105,500 is provided by HSBC Group.

The program aims at creating unique job opportunities for the residents of Armenian regions (marzes) by promoting the development of information technology (IT) industry and entrepreneurship in Shirak, Lori, Gegharkunik, and Kotayk regions.

The program consists of two components. As part of the first component, 60 young people from the target regions will enjoy the opportunity to participate in a six-month IT training program led by senior specialists of Instigate Training Center and other IT companies operating in the regions, followed by a two-month professional internship in the regional branches of these companies. The second component includes practical trainings on the development of entrepreneurial skills and business planning for 40 young people from the mentioned regions, providing them with the opportunity to start and develop their own businesses.

“We at HSBC realize that the economic development of the country is not possible without regional development. Within the framework of the program, 100 young people living in the regions will get an opportunity to receive IT related knowledge and develop their entreprenerual skills, which they can further use in their native communities. This is an important step towards decreasing unemployment rate in the target regions and promoting long-term regional economic development”, said Irina Seylanyan, CEO of HSBC Bank Armenia CJSC.

Armen Hakobyan, the executive director of Jinishian Memorial Foundation, thanked HSBC Group for productive cooperation and for entrusting the implementation of the program to the foundation. He stressed that the program would create a unique opportunity for the residents of Armenian regions to find high paying jobs in IT and would offer various assistance tools enabling young people to call their business projects to life.