Setting Vectors and Priorities. ITPS at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2021

On June 2-5, the 24^th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF’21), a global business event, gathered almost 13 thousand delegates from 140 countries. This is the largest Russian venue for an open dialog between state and business, top-managers of the leading international companies, and political figures, including the heads of states. The matters discussed as a part of the business agenda play an important role in setting the vector for the future development of the Russian and the world economy.

The key topic that was repeatedly coming up in all the Forum’s business events was the challenges and growth prospects in the new economic reality which all the parties of business relations are currently trying to fit in. Speaking at a plenary session of SPIEF’21, President Vladimir Putin asserted that despite the negative consequences of the pandemic, the life in the world is getting back to normal. “The pandemic, no doubt, gave a boost to hi-tech and future-oriented types of production and what defines and will define progress in the nearest term. However, I believe that the most important takeaway is the understanding that health and human contacts are our highest values. That’s what we need to take into account when planning our life for immediate future and for longer term”, noted the President.

Traditionally, much attention was paid to innovations and the implementation of digital technologies. One of the central events devoted to this topic was the annual IT-Breakfast held by RUSSOFT, the Russian Association of Electronic Communications (RAEC) and the Russian Venture Company for the 10^th time. The topic of the event was the place of Russia in the global digital landscape. At the IT-Breakfast, Maksut Shadaev, the head of the Ministry for the Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, outlined five priorities for the development of his department. “The first is the human capital: we need to improve the funnel by an order. The second is to create a powerful momentum and encourage demand. The third is to work on levelling the terms between the Russian and foreign companies. The fourth is export: we need to enhance the export potential of the Russian companies. The fifth is foreign currency control: we need to create comfortable conditions for the companies taking into account their needs”, summarized the minister.

Many representatives of the Russian IT-companies noted that the angle of discussions around the prospects of digital development of the Russian economy has shifted significantly. For example, two years ago a focus was on the implementation of artificial intelligence, and the market caught up with that trend. “Whereas in the past we talked about technologies, now the Forum participants are focused on dealing with practical business tasks: cost reduction, productivity improvement, reduction of production costs, ensuring environmental safety, etc. Our company, as an integrated IT-partner of the largest Russian enterprises, has significant experience of achieving the desired economic effects through organizational and technological changes. It is the correct implementation of the integrated digital tool that helped our customers to withstand the “storm” with the least possible losses and quickly adapt to the fast-pacing market conditions. Now they are ready to graduate from anti-crisis management to sustainable development in the future”, noted Leonid Tikhomirov, ITPS CEO.