KAZAKHSTAN: PROSPECTS FOR RUSSIAN IT BUSINESS
On November 17, a webinar was held with the participation of Anton Loginov, Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in Kazakhstan, «On Opportunities for Russian ICT Business in Kazakhstan».
The event was attended by Denis Budnik, «digital attaché» of the Russian Trade Representative in Kazakhstan, Deputy Head of Division of the Department of Digital Technologies of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia Daria Rytova, Project Manager of the Russian Foundation for Development of Information Technologies Artem Evdakov, as well as about 100 exporting companies from all over the country, including members of the NCCCI.
Darya Rytova spoke about the main task of the digital attaché — to increase the volume of exports of Russian goods and services in the field of information technologies. By the end of the year it is planned to form the services of «digital attachés» in 26 countries around the world.
Anton Loginov in his welcoming speech presented the economic potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noting that Kazakhstan does not support sanctions against Russia, but will not become a tool to circumvent sanctions. Nevertheless, the trade turnover of Kazakhstan with Russia in 2022 reached about 28 billion U.S. dollars. When working with Kazakhstan, Russian business faces difficulties in making payments, long checks of documents, and pressure from Europe and the United States on Kazakhstan.
Denis Budnik made a report on the state of the market of information and communication technologies and the prospects for promoting Russian IT solutions. Thus, the Government of Kazakhstan has developed a strategy for the development of the IT market of the republic, the goal of which is to achieve sovereignty in the field of modern technologies. The export volume of the IT market is more than 500 million dollars. Russia is among the top 5 exporters of IT solutions to Kazakhstan. The main activities in the market structure are software development and delivery, IT infrastructure management in the public sector, software maintenance. The key sectors for implementation of IT solutions are mining, metallurgy, engineering, logistics, agro-industrial complex, IT sector.
Denis Budnik outlined possible strategies for bringing IT solutions of Russian business to the market of Kazakhstan, including importing into the country through distributors/integrators; sending a representative; opening a subsidiary company; localization of production in Kazakhstan; participation in exhibitions and conferences; participation in a business mission.
In addition, the «digital attaché» noted the cultural peculiarities and business etiquette adopted in Kazakhstan, current taxation norms, measures of support for IT companies from the state.
The Department of Digital Technologies of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation together with trade missions of the Russian Federation started to hold information webinars for exporting organizations in order to promote domestic software, radio-electronic products and related services in the foreign market.