Opinions & Interviews

MOSCOW, 29 November (BelTA) – Belarus is ahead of many developed European economies as far as software development is concerned. The statement was made by State Secretary of the Union State of Belarus and Russia Grigory Rapota during the international conference Eurasian Economic Union and European Union: Cooperation, Coexistence or Confrontation in Moscow, BelTA has learned.

The official mentioned Belarus’ competence in software development, which is ahead of many European Union countries such as Germany, Italy, and other ones. “Belarus is the world’s number one in the number of programmers per capita,” said Grigory Rapota.

Software development in Belarus was mentioned by Grigory Rapota because the implementation of the new program on creating a commodity tracking system and introducing electronic markers in the Union State of Belarus and Russia will begin next year.

According to the source, the Union State of Belarus and Russia has switched from manufacturing programs to R&D ones, which allow carrying out scientific research and development work. Such work can make up to 40% of the prime cost of the end product. Not every investor is ready to spend money on it.

According to Grigory Rapota, the switchover has produced considerable effects. As an example he mentioned the development of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, which boasts extreme durability and an extreme slip factor, as part of the Composite program, which had cost about RUB4 billion. The material is now being actively adopted by the manufacturing sector.

“Such examples are abundant. About 60 programs like that have been implemented in the Union State of Belarus and Russia,” added Grigory Rapota.

The conference was organized by the television and radio broadcasting organization of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the Europe Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Russian-Belarusian Expert Club.