Russia Needs All-Round Program To Get Into World Information Market Foreground: Minister
If Russia is to get into the foreground of the world IT market, it needs a comprehensive state program implemented, said Leonid Reiman, Information and Communications Minister.
Dec 12, 2004
NOVOSIBIRSK, January 12 (RIA Novosti) - If Russia is to get into the foreground of the world IT market, it needs a comprehensive state program implemented, said Leonid Reiman, Information and Communications Minister. He was addressing a conference on the establishment of information technological parks, which gathered at the Academic Township near Novosibirsk on Tuesday.
The Information and Communications Ministry is ready with blueprints for such a program. It focuses on a technopark network to be set up for information and high-tech exports, added the minister.
Information technologies currently account for more than 10 per cent of the gross domestic product in the world's leading countries. The global information technological market has outstripped even the petroleum market, with a $915 billion annual turnover. Meanwhile, Russia accounts for a mere 0.2 per cent of that affluent market.
The draft program, for up to 2010, envisages support of high-tech companies as they emerge in the world market. It aims to remove administrative obstacles, urgently provide related laws and bylaws, and streamline legislation to protect intellectual property and thus encourage IT capital investment, Mr. Reiman went on.
Technoparks are to acquire the status of exclusive economic zones, with preferential fiscal and customs arrangements. The minister sees this prospect as a major incentive for progress in that sector of the Russian economy.
The program envisages the establishment of a Technological University to train personnel for IT companies, and financing a program for postgraduate teacher training.
A commercial venture fund will be set up to finance information technological projects.
"The state is to demonstrate its lasting interest in this sphere, and thus offer an investment impetus," stressed Leonid Reiman.
As for program financing, 18 billion rubles has been earmarked out of the government purse for this year into 2010 (today's Central Bank rate is R27.75/$1). Design plans and specifications for technoparks are to be ready within this year. Ambitious efforts are scheduled for the two next years, 2006-07, with construction finished of the Technological University and an initial stage of technoparks, and the venture fund starting work.
When implemented, the program will increase the Russian IT market turnover to forty billion US dollars, and high technologies will make 5 per cent of the GDP.
By 2010, Russia is to join the world's information technological leaders, with prospects for Western corporate clientele of Russian-based companies. That will spectacularly help this country to double its gross domestic product, and reduce the dependence of its national economy on raw materials, stressed the minister.
The Information and Communications Ministry is ready with blueprints for such a program. It focuses on a technopark network to be set up for information and high-tech exports, added the minister.
Information technologies currently account for more than 10 per cent of the gross domestic product in the world's leading countries. The global information technological market has outstripped even the petroleum market, with a $915 billion annual turnover. Meanwhile, Russia accounts for a mere 0.2 per cent of that affluent market.
The draft program, for up to 2010, envisages support of high-tech companies as they emerge in the world market. It aims to remove administrative obstacles, urgently provide related laws and bylaws, and streamline legislation to protect intellectual property and thus encourage IT capital investment, Mr. Reiman went on.
Technoparks are to acquire the status of exclusive economic zones, with preferential fiscal and customs arrangements. The minister sees this prospect as a major incentive for progress in that sector of the Russian economy.
The program envisages the establishment of a Technological University to train personnel for IT companies, and financing a program for postgraduate teacher training.
A commercial venture fund will be set up to finance information technological projects.
"The state is to demonstrate its lasting interest in this sphere, and thus offer an investment impetus," stressed Leonid Reiman.
As for program financing, 18 billion rubles has been earmarked out of the government purse for this year into 2010 (today's Central Bank rate is R27.75/$1). Design plans and specifications for technoparks are to be ready within this year. Ambitious efforts are scheduled for the two next years, 2006-07, with construction finished of the Technological University and an initial stage of technoparks, and the venture fund starting work.
When implemented, the program will increase the Russian IT market turnover to forty billion US dollars, and high technologies will make 5 per cent of the GDP.
By 2010, Russia is to join the world's information technological leaders, with prospects for Western corporate clientele of Russian-based companies. That will spectacularly help this country to double its gross domestic product, and reduce the dependence of its national economy on raw materials, stressed the minister.