Experiences from Moscow in digital transformation

Ilya Podorvanov is Business Manager for Africa at JSC Rosinfocominvest in Moscow Russia. He is responsible for Russia-Africa cooperation for National digital programs. He is experienced in smart city solutions / smart nation solutions, e-government solutions - digital education / educational programs, international funding in G2G, B2G national digital programs. We chat about his work, experiences from Moscow, his new vision and worst nightmare for future cities.

Key Takeaways

JSC Rosinfocominvest in Africa

  • Russia has developed e-Government and Smart City technologies on an advanced level.
  • They currently work in South Africa, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Angola, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
  • They experience a high interest in 4g and 5g technologies. It’s a core technology for developing IOT and Smart City solutions.

Covid-19 impacts

  • Many innovation projects stopped especially in industries such an electricity, Oil & gas, nuclear.
  • Telecommunications, digital education, digital healthcare big interest for technologies to improve business processes.

Experiences from Moscow

  • The need for transparency of communication between the needs of citizen and the government.
  • Eliminating red tape.
  • e-Government and digital citizen technologies Moscow has 1 app to pay taxes, make a doctor’s appointment and more.

Challenges African cities must overcome

  • African cities are unique
  • We will see a new generation of people who understand that we can collaborate remotely

The end of rapid urbanization?

  • Urbanisation is a complex movement
  • There are many innovations happening at this moment

Ilya’s new vision and worst nightmare for future cities

  • His vision of what cities will look like has totally changed from before the pandemic
  • We are already in a future world. It’s a tough but interesting time.
  • It’s tricky for an ordinary worker to change his/her qualification overnight to a more digital one.
  • His worst nightmare is unemployment


About Ilya Podorvanov and JSC Rosinfocominvest


Ilya Podorvanov is Business Manager for Africa at JSC Rosinfocominvest in Moscow Russia. He is responsible for Russia-Africa cooperation for National digital programs. He is experienced in smart city solutions / smart nation solutions, e-government solutions - digital education / educational programs, international funding in G2G, B2G national digital programs.

JSC Rosinfocominvest was founded by the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation.
Investment size: 50M-150M RUB.
Competitive edge:  Market-oriented approach in synergy with capabilities of the state-owned fund.
Focus: Help companies to move quickly from the product to the scalable business.
Strategic priorities: B2B sector, “Smart money”, 50%-co-investments, growth-stage (Round A and B).
Areas of investments: Energy, Manufacturing, Finance, Telecommunications, Oil and Gas, Education, Healthcare, Transportation.

Web: http://www.rosinfocominvest.ru/en/

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