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The head of state held a State Council Presidium session ”On Information and Communications Technology in the Russian Federation“ in Nizhny Novgorod.

The field of information technology is one of the most dynamic of the Russian economy and is growing by approximately twenty percent a year. The total value of the information and computer technology sectors in 2005 in Russia amounted to almost $35 billion. Approximately two percent of the active population works in the field of high-tech. Labour productivity in this field is the highest in the Russian economy.

In 2005 the number of Internet users in Russia amounted to 22 million people.

When opening the State Council Presidium session Vladimir Putin declared that developing the field of high-tech is one of Russia's strategic tasks that will help achieve economic diversification and overcome excessive dependence on natural resources. According to the head of state high-tech must become a powerful impetus both for economic growth and for modernizing administration.

The President noted that providing the state and municipal authorities with information systems is both necessary and will help increase the efficiency of all levels of authority. New technologies must also be used in state supervision of the safety and quality of consumer goods, including pharmaceutical products.

The head of state emphasized the importance of more actively attracting investors to the Russian information technology market. Mr Putin promised to support domestic companies working in this sphere. Among other things, this help could consist in organizing technology parks.

Following the session the President gave a number of orders. The President set the government the task of resolving problems concerning the establishment of a Venture Fund in 2006, of using a digital signature, and returning to the customs regime of temporary imports for IT companies working with foreign partners. Vladimir Putin also pointed out that it is necessary to speed up the process of introducing information technology in the regions.

During his working visit to the Nizhny Novgorod Region the President also examined one of the region's leading scientific research centres, the Sedakov Institute of Measuring Systems, and met with academics and production managers in the field of information technology.

The head of state also visited the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. Vladimir Putin laid flowers on the monuments commemorating the victims of the wars of 1612, 1812 and World War II.