On 27th June, 2016 the Workshop “Cooperation in the field of Information and Communication Technologies, Regulation of Cross-Border Markets in the Digital Economy and E-Commerce, Creation of Digital Space in the Framework of Integration Associations - EAEU, CIS, SCO, BRICS, APEC, and the Development of the Strategic Cooperation Format with the EU and China (“Digital Silk Road”)” took place. The event was held by Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on the basis of the Analytical Center for the Government of the Russian Federation. The Workshop was attended by representatives of public authorities, the State Duma of the Russian Federation, international and regional organizations (World Bank, Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and development (OECD), business, scientific and expert community.

From the Institute of the Information Society the leaders - Yuri Hohlov, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Tatiana Ershova, Director General, as well as employees - Louisa Rizmanova, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Public Relations, Vladimir Kondratiev, Leading Expert of Directorate of Regional Programs, Irina Samorukova, Senior Analyst, Alexander Katin, Analyst, and Vasily Pitul, Analyst, participated in the Workshop.

The Workshop was opened with the address to the participants by Vasily Pushkin, Deputy Head of the Analytical Center for the Government of the Russian Federation. He noted that at the moment many global integration processes in the field of information society development are ongoing, as well many discussions are held at the international level, however, they are always implemented at the national level.

In the framework of the first session “Information Interaction in the Implementation of Common Processes” the issues related to the establishment of an integrated system of electronic information exchange between public authorities of EAEU countries, provision of transboundary national and public e-services, openness of government data, the development and implementation of standards, cross-border exchange of information, information security and cross-border space of trust were considered. There were also the prospects for the use of “block chain” technology when constructing the digital spaces in the framework of integration associations. The participants recognized that this technology becomes widely spread in the world, but noted the need to assess all possible risks associated with the safe use of this technology and determine the fields of its application, except for the banking sector.

The second session of the Workshop was devoted to the creation of a digital cross-border trade infrastructure and the digital transformation of the industry. Participants discussed the use of digital signatures in the cross border exchange of information, the development of Eurasian e-commerce infrastructure (B2B, B2C platforms) to ensure access to public procurement through electronic auctions, the prospects for the use of online trading platforms for the export of products, trends in the digital transformation of the industry (“Industry 4.0”, Internet of Things) etc.

In the course of the session the report “Analysis of the Information Society Development in the CIS countries according to Action Lines defined in the Action Plan adopted at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)” was presented by Tatiana Ershova, IIS Director General. In the report the results of a study conducted by IIS experts under contract with the JSC “National ICT Holding “Zerde”. Zerde is the basic organization of the CIS Member States providing methodological, organizational and technical support in the field of information and communication technologies.

The implementation of the WSIS Action Plan was analyzed based on a wide range of research and analytical methods. As a data sources, national programs and strategic documents in the field of ICT, results of researches, experience of ICT development in the leading countries, as well as indicators and composite indices of the Information Society, which are collected and calculated by international organizations and national statistical agencies. The study showed the digital divide between the CIS countries by the values ​​of indicators in seven areas of the WSIS Action Plan (e-government, e-business, e-education, e-health, e-employment, e-environment protection, e-agriculture and e-science). Conclusions and recommendations for each country and region as a whole related to the implementation of measures aimed at developing of the Information Society were provided by the experts.

Participants of the Workshop noted the high importance of this study and suggested to conduct such researches on a regular basis to track the dynamics of the Information Society development.

Yuri Hohlov took active part in the discussion on the topics considered in the course of the second session.