Russia set for IT breakthrough
Sep 30, 2003
GENEVA - Last weekend, Geneva hosted the 14th international conference on telecommunications and information technologies. This year, organizers of the conference named it Telecommunications and Information Technologies in the Social and Economic Development of Russia: New Stage and Opportunities for International Collaboration.
Russian Deputy Telecommunications Minister Boris Antanyuk and Tseren Tserenov, the head of the department for regulating entrepreneurship activities and development of corporate governance of the Economy Ministry, represented executive authorities at the conference. Alexander Shubin, a member of the Union of Right Forces who is also the deputy head of the State Duma committee for information policies and head of the deputy union Electronic Russia, took part in the forum on behalf of lawmakers.
Speaking before participants of the conference, Tserenov announced that the number of Internet users will increase by 2.3-fold to 20 million people in Russia by 2005 or 2006. Currently, 8.5 million Russians have access to the Internet. In particular, 35 percent of them use the Internet from home, 45 percent - from offices and others - from Internet cafes.
In his report at the conference, Duma deputy Alexander Shubin announced the urge to introduce tax privileges for companies involved in launching and developing high technologies. In particular, he suggested that the VAT rate for such companies should be reduced to 10 percent and a special investment award should be introduced. "We should not throw China's experience aside. Owing to efficient state policies, (China) became the second after the USA in the production of computers and accessories over the past five years. Russia is capable of making the same or even a more impressive breakthrough. There is everything necessary for this. All we need is favorable conditions for the development of the high-tech sector like in China," Alexander Shubin was quoted as saying.
Regular participates of the conference presented their reports in Geneva last weekend, including representatives of such companies as Southern Telecommunications Company, Cisco Systems, Renaissance Capital, VimpelCom, the Russian Aerospace Agency, Uralsvyazinform, Mobile TeleSystems, MegaFon, IBS, Svyazinvest and others.
Russian Deputy Telecommunications Minister Boris Antanyuk and Tseren Tserenov, the head of the department for regulating entrepreneurship activities and development of corporate governance of the Economy Ministry, represented executive authorities at the conference. Alexander Shubin, a member of the Union of Right Forces who is also the deputy head of the State Duma committee for information policies and head of the deputy union Electronic Russia, took part in the forum on behalf of lawmakers.
Speaking before participants of the conference, Tserenov announced that the number of Internet users will increase by 2.3-fold to 20 million people in Russia by 2005 or 2006. Currently, 8.5 million Russians have access to the Internet. In particular, 35 percent of them use the Internet from home, 45 percent - from offices and others - from Internet cafes.
In his report at the conference, Duma deputy Alexander Shubin announced the urge to introduce tax privileges for companies involved in launching and developing high technologies. In particular, he suggested that the VAT rate for such companies should be reduced to 10 percent and a special investment award should be introduced. "We should not throw China's experience aside. Owing to efficient state policies, (China) became the second after the USA in the production of computers and accessories over the past five years. Russia is capable of making the same or even a more impressive breakthrough. There is everything necessary for this. All we need is favorable conditions for the development of the high-tech sector like in China," Alexander Shubin was quoted as saying.
Regular participates of the conference presented their reports in Geneva last weekend, including representatives of such companies as Southern Telecommunications Company, Cisco Systems, Renaissance Capital, VimpelCom, the Russian Aerospace Agency, Uralsvyazinform, Mobile TeleSystems, MegaFon, IBS, Svyazinvest and others.