The Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) Workstation successfully launched in Armenia

The GIEWS Workstation was officially launched on September 27, 2006 at an official presentation at the National Statistical Service in Yerevan, Armenia. The very high turn-out included participants from the National Statistics Service, the Armenian government, the EC Delegation, UNIDO and FAO.

The National Statistical Service Representative highlighted that the GIEWS Workstation responds to one of the country's most pressing needs: a reliable means for managing and exchanging food security information among decentralized centers.

It will also meet the expressed need for better livestock and drought monitoring as well as other food security related concerns. Furthermore, there was appreciation for innovative features which allow national institutions to:

- maintain ownership of their data;
- easily exchange data with national and international
  databases; and
- rapidly access new technology and analytical tools.

Three network nodes, which will be managed by national staff, have been set up at the National Statistical Service, the Hydro-Meteorological Service and the Ministry of Agriculture. A very strong capacity building programme, with training and support services provided by a local company, will ensure the sustainability of all activities.