The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized B2B Networking Meetings with the Delegation from RUSSOFT, who visited Kolkata for the Bengal Global Business Summit 2022.

The Delegation was led by Mr. Valentin Makarov, President of St. Petersburg−based Russoft and comprised of multisectoral Russian Companies:

• ICL Group

• ScPAStarLine Ltd

• Electronics Developers and Manufacturing Association

• EDMA

• IBIK LLC

The Bengal Chamber was represented by:

• Mr. Chiranjib Bhattacharya, Co−Chairperson, IT Committee, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and CEO, Wizertech Informatics Pvt. Ltd.
• Mr. Debjit Chakraborty, Member, IT Committee, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Consulting Partner & Global Head− Cloud Advisory & Application Consulting Practices, Tech Mahindra.
• Ms. Ina Bose, Director − HR, Corporate Communications & Industry Connect, Sister Nivedita University− Techno India Group
• Mr. Rajiv Mondal, Incubate, WEBEL−BCC&I Tech Incubation Centre and CEO, Arogyam Medisoft Solution Pvt. Ltd.
• Mr. Rajat Biswas, Incubate, WEBEL−BCC&I Tech Incubation Centre and Chief Marketing Officer, Aunwesha Knowledge Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
• Mr. Soumyajit Roy, Incubate, WEBEL−BCC&I Tech Incubation Centre and Co−Founder, Solaire Initiatives.
• Mr. Lalit Lakhani, Managing Director, ASL Plastic Private Limited.
• Mr. Nikhil Jaiswal, General Manager− East, Green Base Industrial & Logistics Park
• Mr. Shovankar Roy, CEO, Ragilly Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
• Mr. Rajarshi Ghosh, COO, Ragilly Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
• Mr. Kaushik Basu, Director, VTL Electronics Limited

Mr. Valentin Makarov, President, St. Petersburg−based Russoft, stated that a number of Russian software companies are very keen to expand footprint and forge JVs in the BRICS nations and India appears to be the best potential partners for Russia to create and achieve technological goals. A total of 267 software companies from across Russia are part of Russoft, which was formed in 1999 with a consortium of only 10 entities. Around seven Russoft companies had ‘stable partners’ in India. The technology giants such as Microsoft, Intel, Dell and HP had development centres in Russia, and some of these companies had shut shop in the country after the invasion of Ukraine. Mr. Makarov also said that Russian IT companies can boost Indian firms with technological prowess− i.e. by including artificial intelligence (AI), automation of industrial production, cyber security, telemedicine and digital governance; by bringing AI in tax treatment, optimising traffic movement through software, economising electricity consumption and working on information systems for logistics. Mr. Makarov also emphasized on digital currency and a Rupee− Ruble payment mechanism to avoid dependence on U.S. dollar for international trade.

The session was followed by vibrant business−to−business meetings between the Russoft delegation and Indian companies.