Putin says digital technologies to raise productivity, have risks

MOSCOW, Nov 10 (PRIME) -- Changes triggered by the evolution of digital technologies could raise labor productivity, but carry serious risks for countries finding themselves unable to catch up with “the technological wave,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

“Digital technologies influence all facets of society’s life; literally, before our eyes, such spheres as healthcare, pharmaceutics, power and city environment are getting new qualities,” Putin said.

“The mode of people’s life is changing under the influence of digital technologies. Such changes open a path to dramatic improvement of labor productivity, create unique opportunities, make mastering new market niches and getting real profits possible.”

Countries that will fail to develop the digital industry will be on the outskirts of progress and outsiders in competition, the president said, adding that new technologies could undermine popularity of traditional industries.

“Changes of professional requirements and automatization of manufacture on a new basis without due preparation of staff can provoke structural unemployment,” Putin said.

Cyber risks and threats must not be ignored. “Systems of network access, digitalization of the public and personal life require a secure protection of interests of citizens and the country as a whole,” he said.

Moscow plans to craft legislation to regulate a transfer of technologies and protection of intellectual property, the president said.

“It’s crucially important that all our initiatives, long-term plans to create a new digital economy come true in the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union meaning they would go beyond national borders to the level of a big regional union,” Putin said, adding that Russia has a huge potential of technological development.

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