RF and Denmark as well as Belarus and iSQI to Partner

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Denmark on April 27 for a state visit aimed at renewing good relations with Copenhagen. The Russian leader’s visit is expected to focus on improving ties that soured eight years ago when Denmark refused to extradite a Chechen rebel to Russia, prompting then-President Vladimir Putin to cancel a planned state visit.

At a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen on April 27, Medvedev announced that Russia and Denmark have agreed to cooperate in high technologies and modernization of the Russian economy. He further pointed out that the total volume of direct Danish investment into the Russian economy makes up nearly one billion dollars. “I cannot say that this is a huge sum, but it’s a start. These investments were made into the medical industry, pharmaceutics, energy cooperation,” he said.

Medvedev noted that Danish partners now participate in creating energy-efficient cities in Russia. He said such a project is being implemented in Tatarstan and in a number of other regions. A document on cooperation in high technologies and modernization of the Russian economy must also be signed, Medvedev said.

Belarus also signed a high-tech cooperation deal. The High-Tech Park of Belarus and the International Software Quality Institute (iSQI GmbH), Potsdam, Germany, have signed an agreement on cooperation. In line with the agreement, a certification center for IT experts will be set up in the High-Tech Park. The center will provide international certificates in such areas as project management, business analysis, innovation management, security management and others which are compliant with the standards adopted in more than 40 countries.

The German region and Belarus should develop closer cooperation in the area of high technologies, Minister-President of Brandenburg Matthias Platzeck noted as he signed the document. “Belarus can become a bridge to the Russian Federation for us and Germany can help Belarus go further to Eastern Europe,” he said.
Germany is one of the High-Tech Park’s largest partners in Europe. It accounts for 12% of the export of the Park’s software.