The EAEU will develop a common digital industrial space
The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) started actively working on creation of a common digital industrial space of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The Member of the Board – Minister in charge of Industry and Agroindustrial Complex of the Eurasian Economic Commission, Sergey Sidorskiy, told about it to the participants of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum.
Speaking at the session "Russia – Germany”: “Smart factories. Increasing production efficiency with network technologies", Sergey Sidorskiy noted that the EAEU countries had high potential for creation of a digital economy. There is a strong base in software development.
"The rapid development of digital technologies in areas such as 3D printing, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence raises profound structural changes in processes, primarily, in industrial production,” the EEC Minister said. “And here there is a substantial request for digital technologies from metallurgy to space."
The question of the digital transformation of the economies of the Member States has become permanent in the session agendas of the Union bodies and systematically discussed by the Heads of the states, governments and the Commission. So, the Heads of the Governments endorsed the EEC initiative on the establishment under the Commission of the EAEU Digital Development Competence Center. Digital transformation of economic sectors, markets for goods and services, capital and labour, management processes and integration processes in the Union, development of digital infrastructure and protection of security of digital processes are considered as key areas of digital integration in the EAEU.
The Commission began to develop the draft Concept on creation of conditions for digital transformation of industries of the Member States. The Concept is planned to be formed in 2018, and after that to be implemented. The Eurasian industrial cooperation and subcontracting network and the Eurasian technology transfer network was started, which become integral parts of the Eurasian digital industrial space.
In its work on the digital agenda, the Commission also relies on the experience of foreign countries, including Germany. "This spring, the Eurasian Economic Commission signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Union of German machine builders,” Sergey Sidorskiy said. “We have joint initiatives, including in digital technologies, which we will implement together. The Commission examines digital strategies for industrial development in the EU, cooperates with the leading automakers of developed countries (Renault, Volkswagen). For example, for electric vehicles, which we review as an important element in ensuring the transition to digitalization of transportation and logistics systems.”
Digitalization is a new stage of development and modernization of the world industry and, therefore, is the key to successful competition in the global market.
Press-release at the official Eurasian Economic Commission web-site