Russia hopes to boost its IT industry and lead in it in the near future. The State Council gathered in Nizhny Novgorod to discuss the outlook.
      
      GDP figures indicate a 3.3% growth over the past five years. It is far from the standard 30% rate.
      
      Currently, over a million people are employed in the sector with the highest productivity in Russian economy.
      
      “It has been in our focus recently because the technology sector has huge potential and immediately affects scientific progress. It is key for Russia’s future leadership on the global markets,” said the Russian president.
      
      Valery Shantsev, governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, has been named a role model. He places orders via Internet.
      
      The Russian president proposed setting up a venture fund to support the IT sector. Among the priorities are digital television, post office reforms, the development of the GLONASS technology, Russian satellite navigation system, and the introduction of the European standards of emergency calls.
      
      By 2006, all towns and settlements in the Far East will be connected by telephone networks. Siberia is next. By 2008 every Russian family will have the landline and all Russian schools will be equipped with computers.