Russian IT companies have been encouraged to replicate Microsoft’s strategy in Kyrgyzstan

Russian IT companies should focus not only on selling their products in Kyrgyzstan, but also on long-term investment in training specialists. This view was expressed by Vadim Yun, head of a Russian IT company and Honorary Consul of Kyrgyzstan, at the ‘Kyrgyzstan–Russia’ business dialogue held as part of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

According to him, in 2022 most Russian companies viewed Kyrgyzstan primarily as a sales market. However, by 2025–2026 it had become clear that the ‘come and sell’ strategy did not ensure a sustainable market presence.

He cited the example of Microsoft, which in the 1990s provided software free of charge to schools, universities and government institutions, which subsequently helped to build a broad base of specialists working with its technologies.

In Yun’s view, Russian developers could adopt a similar approach. He proposed that the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union join forces to create a unified technological platform that could be used in schools, universities and government institutions.

Vadim Yun noted that the EAEU countries are currently tackling similar challenges in the areas of digitalisation, cybersecurity and public administration, so the joint development of technologies could become one of the elements of the region’s technological sovereignty.