State corporation „ROSTECH“ will supply systems, enabling to vote or book an appointment in hospital, to Damascus before 2020. „ROSTECH´s“ daughter company „RusInformExport“ has agreed to supply the elements of the system of „e-government“ to Syria. It is planned to sign similar contracts with Cuba, Iran, countries of South America, Africa, Middle East and South Asia, as the „RusInformExport“ has confirmed. The sale has been under negotiations since March 2016, and it has been signed in December 2016. According to the agreement, the supplier will create network of the centers, where citizens will be identified and enlisted into the system, and also offices for the registration of digital signature. „The business that we are involved in, is export of IT solutions, which have recommended themselves in Russia, and now we are presenting ourselves as a party, which supplies our partners not only with means of raw materials transport, but also the one, which supplies leading technologies. We believe strongly, that this will create new field of income for the Russian export“ - said Pavel Basin, the head of „RusInformExport“.

The main task of „e-government“ is to simplify communication with state institutions providing services to the population in the shortest possible time and to prevent opportunities for corruption. As an example, one of the elements of such a system is the portal of public services, through which the Russians have now enlisted their children to school, receive the driving license and pay taxes, and all this is done in an automated mode without contact with the officer. Syria needs such system primarily for citizens, which are returning to their homes after the fighting, so they will feel that new quality of life is ahead. Also, the system should help investors who will rebuild the country. After the system reaches oprational commercial status, „RusInformExport“ will provide operational support and warranty for two years. At the same time staff training will be held in Syria and Russia. The project budget has already been approved by the Central Bank of Syria, however, the contract value is not disclosed. A source in the industry said, the entire Middle East market of IT-solutions in the „e-government“ format, is estimated to total about $ 200 million and Syria accounts for about 1/3 of the volume. Exports of IT-technology is advantageous because of the low rate of the ruble, which makes this product cheap for foreign buyers, and its selling is profitable for Russia, said analyst GK TeleTrade Mark Goihkman.

According to his statement, despite the military campaign in Syria, the risks of the contract are minimal, because the product is an intangible asset.

- Evaluating of „e-government“ in Syria would allow the export of similar solutions in other countries, particularly in Iran, which „RusInformExport“ also talks - said Mark Goikhman.

The importance of the deal is still in the fact that it will be the basis for the expansion of exports in other sectors of the Syrian economy, analyst says. According to him, the deal has a long-term outlook in terms of strengthening of the cooperation. According to the Russian export center, Syria occupies less than 1% of Russia's exports.

Economist, Associate Professor of MGIMO Alexey Mikheev stressed the importance of the image feature of the contract.

- The fact that Russia supplies advanced technology is in Syria, it is important in terms of image, because we begin to be perceived not only as strong militarily power, but also as a country that carries out humanitarian mission and establishes a peaceful life. Globally it is a positive for the overall perception of the country. Syria needs not only military victory. The question, who will be helping to establish a peaceful life, depends on influence in the region, geopolitics. Implementation of important services for the population, reduction of bureaucracy in the postwar years, are strategically important, - said Alexey Mikheev.

The first vice-president of "Opora Rossii" Pavel Sigal also noted that Russia is starting  to change its export structure step by step.

- Of course, the fighting is still going on in Syria, but we should think about the economic recovery now. All accustomed to the fact that Russia starts to lobby for the interests of the mining companies first, and our economy is seen through the prism of the big energetical companies. Investors are particularly interested in our raw materials. However, exports of IT-solutions gives a signal that Russia is changing the structure of exports. This is a natural process, because we have a skilled workforce and proven solutions, because „e-government“ is an effective project that has grown on the basis of high technologies, - says Pavel Sigal.