Moscow, 17 June 2022. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Russian Fund for the Development of Information Technologies (RFRIT) will cooperate to support the digital transformation of the EAEU+ single space, including Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, and Tajikistan. The respective memorandum was signed by Alexander Pavlov, CEO of the RFRIT, and Tigran Sargsyan, Vice Chairman of the EDB Management Board.
The document continues current cooperation between the parties. Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board, is a member of the RFRIT Supervisory Board while Alexander Pavlov is a member of a committee of the EDB Fund for Digital Initiatives.
“Our interaction is becoming closer and more coordinated. The new memorandum envisages the development of Russia’s IT projects and their promotion in the EAEU and third countries,” said Alexander Pavlov.
The plan is to apply best digital transformation practices across all sectors of the economy and develop the global competitiveness of local IT markets.
“Cooperation with the RFRIT seems very promising to us. Potential synergies will contribute to the digitalisation of Eurasia. The competencies of the EDB Fund for Digital Initiatives and the Bank can significantly foster the development of digital projects in the EDB countries,” said Tigran Sargsyan, Vice Chairman of the EDB Management Board.
The EDB Fund for Digital Initiatives will be in charge of cooperation with the RFRIT on the Bank’s side. The Fund’s programme will focus on the digitalisation of industry, trade, labour market, agriculture, education, transport and logistics, as well as digital solutions in health, culture, tourism, sports and cloud technology.
Additional Information:
RFRIT is an operator of state support from the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of Russia. Grants for the development and implementation of domestic IT solutions are provided as part of the national programme entitled Digital Economy of the Russian Federation.
The EDB Fund for Digital Initiatives, which is supervised by Tigran Sargsyan, Vice Chairman of the Management Board, was established in June 2020. Its objective is to assist the EDB member states in creating digital transformation tools and practices by integrating their information resources and participating in the development and financing of projects.
The Fund’s first initiative was the COVID-19 Free Travel app, which makes it possible for those who are not infected with COVID-19 to travel to other countries during the pandemic. Armenia, Belarus, Russia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan have joined the project so far.
The Fund for Digital Initiatives also plans to launch the Work in the EAEU app in 2022. The users of this mobile service will get access to government and commercial employment services and will be able to register remotely with pension insurance and tax authorities, find and respond to vacancies, rent accommodation, and get loans for relocation.
The EDB Media Centre:
Azima Sapargaliyeva +7 (777) 750 00 08 (Almaty)