Washington, DC - USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Europe & Eurasia Jonathan Hale has met with Armenian Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan to discuss potential collaboration with the private sector on Information Technology (IT) projects.

In a four day visit to Armenia, Hale will explore and emphasize the innovative use of strategic alliances with the private sector, multilateral institutions, local government, civil society organizations and others to accomplish key development objectives. Public-private alliances bring together disparate groups to confront common challenges - from economic growth to health to environmental sustainability.

In the context of his meeting with Hale, Minister Yeritsyan said, "We look forward to partnering with USAID on the IT sector, which has great potential as Armenia has an advantage in this sector. We want companies to come to Armenia and create their innovative environments."

In Armenia, the USAID Mission has leveraged resources through partnerships to foster private sector growth, promote environmental preservation, increase energy efficiency, and improve women's health and well-being. For instance, USAID/Armenia partnered with Sun Microsystems and the Enterprise Incubator Foundation to establish JAVA Teaching Laboratories in three major Armenian universities to train students in web-based software and to establish a Solution Development Center for IT companies, institutions, and individuals to test and develop integrated computer applications.

USAID/Armenia is currently consulting with local firms, Armenian universities, and other high tech industry stakeholders to identify U.S. and Armenian private firms with the technical specializations sought as potential alliance partners to facilitate the commercialization of R&D, improvement in university training, and internet access beyond the capital of Yerevan.

USAID is a trailblazer in forming public-private alliances to enhance development outcomes. Since its establishment as a formal business model in 2001, the Agency's Global Development Alliance model has formed over 900 alliances with over 1,700 partners to advance key development objectives. In his remarks at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship in April, President Obama highlighted the impact of building alliances, saying "there's so much more we can do together, in partnership, to foster opportunity and prosperity in all our countries."

Throughout the Europe & Eurasia region, USAID Missions have formed partnerships to leverage taxpayer resources. USAID joined with local centers, multilateral institutions, and international private sector and non-profit organizations in Georgia for The Georgia Survive Project, which increases awareness, medical training, and screening services for breast health and cervical cancer. USAID/Bosnia and Herzegovina partnered with CISCO Systems and a local IT company to foster links between government and residents by building e-government capacity in the municipalities of Srebrenica and Bratunac.

Hale said, "Pubic private alliances are mutually beneficial. They further the impact of taxpayer money while enhancing the sustainability of the private sector, civil society organizations, and governments locally in Europe & Eurasia."

For more information about USAID, visit www.usaid.gov.