On 14 April 2006 Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the RF held the first organization meeting of the Expert Council on the Information Technologies Development.

The meeting discussed the following issues: adopting Regulations for the Expert Council and the Council membership that is supposed to include representatives of public authorities, business communities, Russian and international IT companies, research organizations, and mass media. The meeting also discussed the Council Action Plan for the year 2006.

The meeting was conducted by A. Torshin, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the RF.

IT Expert Council was established in accordance with the Recommendations of the round table "From Raw Economy to Hi-Tech Economy" that took place in the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly on 25 November 2005.

It aimed at integrating efforts of representatives of federal and regional public authorities, business community comprising Russian and international companies, researchers and specialists, and mass media with the ultimate objective to accelerate the pace of IT development in Russia.

The Expert Council objectives:

• Participation in the development of legislative and regulatory acts regulating and stipulating development of IT industry
• Public discussion of urgent issues allowing to create favorable conditions for the industry development
• Sharing the viewpoint of IT community with the federal authorities (Federal Assembly, Government, ministries and administrations, etc).

The main forms of the Expert Council activity are expected to be round tables, conferences, presentations of outstanding projects, as well as visit meetings and press-conferences.

Chairman of IIS Board Yuri Hohlov was invited to join the Council and participated in the first organizational meeting of this consultative body.