Date
Author
Александр Козленко; Вице-Президент Actis Systems
Source
Preserved copy
Translated material
e-commerce in RuNet: the state will help us
Today's problems in the development of Russian e-commerce are caused not so much by technical as by ideological difficulties. The segment of the population that has bank accounts and makes payments through the bank is too thin. Even fewer people trust the Internet with their money. But all these problems can be resolved over time.
The job of today's "pioneers" is to test the Internet for business, to "stake out" the most important achievements and discoveries, and to complete a small revolution in the minds of consumers. The cost of making a mistake in a new business that no one has ever done before is high, the risk is great, and the effectiveness may still be insignificant. However, recently more and more large financial institutions have entered the market. Next year, most industrial and financial companies will begin to move their business to the Internet. And the future fate of the Runet largely depends on the attitude of the Russian authorities towards it. And her position is obviously changing.
At a recent meeting, organized at the request of the Russian Ministry of Communications and Information by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, representatives of the largest Russian Internet companies, including Actis Systems President Pavel Cherkashin, gathered. The state of the Runet, its problems and direction of development were discussed.
Minister of Communications Leonid Reiman formulated the task as follows - to find a common language and ways for dialogue between Internet companies and government authorities. In his opinion, the most optimal solution is not just government regulation of the activities of commercial firms, but the creation of conditions under which Internet companies themselves would take part in the development of the legislative framework and market regulation.
The speed of development of the Runet is directly related to the market for advertising, public relations (PR), and personnel training. At the same time, attitudes towards e-commerce are subject to the “fathers and sons” syndrome. The “fathers”, the older generation, do not yet accept the changes that are taking place, which are already really affecting the country’s economy. That is why state and public recognition of the Internet community is so important.
According to our forecasts, the dominant export of raw materials in Russia will be complemented in a few years by the export of technologies and business solutions, that is, offshore programming. The key to this is public interest, the massive emergence of investors, an increase in the number of professionals, and now full-fledged support from the state.