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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Nikitin, you have been serving as Deputy Minister of Transport for several months now. What is your area of responsibilities?

Andrei Nikitin: Mr President, you have assigned us an ambitious agenda to drive the digital transformation of the transport sector. A recently signed law mandating the transition to electronic transport documents starting next year was signed recently. This change will allow us to track all cargo movements, both domestically and internationally, with full transparency. Now, we could only make rough estimates of cargo flows between regions, but moving forward, we will have precise, real-time data on what is being transported and where.

We will also gain insight into how quickly goods are moving, which will help us identify bottlenecks, forecast logistics flows, and, based on this data, develop the national digital transport and logistics platform you spoke about at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. We are actively working to bring this vision to life.

In addition, I would like to report on the progress made on implementing one of your key directives outlined in the May executive orders: ensuring that standard cargo can cross the border within ten minutes. We conducted a pilot project at the first designated checkpoint and successfully achieved this ten-minute target. Our next step is to integrate this system with customs and other agencies operating at the border, creating a unified digital process.

Today, in many cases – especially when it comes to agricultural products – up to 100 different documents may be required. These include not only transport-related paperwork but also a wide range of other documents. This significantly slows down the movement of goods, making our exports less competitive. Thanks to the solutions we are implementing, we are moving towards a one-stop system, where all necessary documentation will accompany the cargo in electronic form. This concerns cargo flows.

As for passenger traffic, one of the key initiatives currently underway is the digitalisation of discounted fare programmes for eligible beneficiaries. The idea is simple: when a person purchases a ticket, the system automatically checks with the Social Insurance Fund to determine if they qualify for a discount. If they do, the discount is applied instantly with no need to present additional documents. This system is already being tested in a pilot mode.

Following your instruction issued in February after the meeting in Togliatti regarding the seamless digital sky initiative, we have begun implementing the first phase. This initiative extends beyond unmanned aerial drones; it also includes unmanned Lastochka trains, unmanned river trams, self-driving agricultural equipment, and even autonomous harvesters.

It is a vast and diverse field, and the essential first step is to establish a unified identification system. In effect, this means assigning a digital equivalent of a state registration number. This will allow us to clearly identify each unit: who owns it, where it is headed, under what conditions it is operating, and how it is moving.

We are also developing this system at your instruction. A corresponding roadmap has already been prepared, and we plan to submit it to the Government within the next two weeks. Overall, we anticipate that the system will be fully operational by the spring of next year.

The system will be built on the ERA-GLONASS platform, our domestic technology, which you know well. It will give us full control over the development of unmanned systems and allow us to lift many of the current restrictions that stem from the lack of proper oversight. In other words, we’ll be able to lift the current restrictions.

These have been the main focus areas of my work over the past few months.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Nikitin, I would like to invite you to take the next step on your professional journey by assuming the role of Acting Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation. The Prime Minister holds your professional achievements and personal qualities in high regard, particularly the results you have delivered in a relatively short period. I intend to submit your candidacy to the State Duma. If the deputies support your appointment, I will sign the Executive Order confirming you as the official head of this critically important Ministry within the executive branch of government.

I hope you will apply all your energy, knowledge, expertise, and organisational skills to address the crucial tasks facing this sector. Transportation is a fundamental aspect of our country's life – essential, far-reaching and, in many respects, a high-tech field in its own right. You have just outlined the key areas you focused on during your time as Deputy Minister. I trust that you will continue this important work successfully in your new role.

Andrei Nikitin: Mr President, this is both a great honour and a significant responsibility. I will do everything in my power to ensure that our transport sector not only accelerates in its development. As the largest country in the world, we must have a transport system that meets the highest standards; our economy and our citizens need it.

I am fully committed and ready to serve with complete dedication.

Vladimir Putin: Good.