Russian software developers have expressed concerns about the potential return of Western companies to the market. In a letter addressed to First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Renat Lashin, Executive Director of the Association of Software Developers " Отечественный софт" ( Отечественный софт), emphasized that the level of import substitution in some segments does not exceed 30%. This is what causes concern among entrepreneurs.
Lashin noted that Manturov's words about the admissibility of the return of Western brands may contradict recent statements by President Vladimir Putin about the need to focus on national interests. The letter lists the risks associated with the return of foreign companies, including the threat of data leaks and reduced investment in the Russian IT sector.
The volume of the Russian industrial software market in 2024 increased by 17.6%, reaching 60 billion rubles. Not all companies are ready to fully switch to domestic solutions. In the engineering software segment, the level of use of Russian products remains low due to the availability of free foreign software.
Experts emphasize that the return of Western vendors could undermine the progress made in import substitution.
In 2024, despite the continued positive dynamics, the growth rate of the domestic IT market decreased by almost half compared to 2023. This is due to the actual completion of the replacement of foreign software in state-owned companies
The development of complex software requires significant time and financial costs. Competition with foreign counterparts may negatively affect private investment in the Russian IT market, experts believe.
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