By John Garrett
IT Europa, June 23, 2009 RUSSIAN outsourcers are asking for help in keeping up the growth of one of its fastest growing sectors. With more than $2bn in 2008 revenues from IT products and services according to the Russian Software Association RUSSOFT, the country has entered a list of top offshore services destinations, passing other promising development centres like China and Brazil, it claims. Alexander Egorov, general director of software outsourcing services provider Reksoft, says that the Russian software industry now requires government support to seize these opportunities. The global economic situation is stimulating demand for offshore and nearshore projects, while the slight ruble devaluation against the dollar and euro is helping Russian outsourcing providers increase margins and profitability, he says. Local universities and ICT infrastructure development should receive increased attention as cornerstones of the IT industry, he said, speaking on behalf of the Russian IT outsourcing industry at 7 roundtable discussion entitled 'Innovation policy as a Russian anti-crisis programme foundation at the 2009 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. By government support we mean a more positive investment climate support as well as more funds for technology education facilities including new computer classes, laboratories, explains Galiya Sayfutdinov. PR manager at Reksoft. And by infrastucture development Reksoft means the creation of "technoparks", and further ICT infrastructure development in more distant regions. Another thing would be the simplification of visa and migration procedures as well as Russian customs legislation neform, she tells IT Europa. Alexander Egorov noted that the Russian IT services export industry is one of the country's fastest-growing economic sectors. The high quality of Russia's technical education system, he added, combined with relatively low labour costs, creates a solid basis for high demand for Russian offshore services. As the international market demand for outsourcing is estimated to grow in the next five years to up to $1tn (EUR 720bn) in 2013-2014, according to Gartner predictions, Russia has a chance to increase its share of income. He also stressed the importance of service providers, describing them as the first component in the evolutionary chain of any high technology sector, creating an ecosystem for local IT industry development and increasing the competitive ability of local companies, urging them to further expansion, www.reksoft.ru |