RAEC sees digital economy input in Russia’s GDP at 2.8%

MOSCOW, Apr 19 (PRIME) -- Digital economy accounts for 2.8% of the gross domestic product (GDP), while Internet-dependent markets contribute 19% to the indicator, the Russian Association for Electronic Communications (RAEC) said on Wednesday in a statement, quoting its director Sergei Plugotarenko.

Three quarters of Russians, or 86.7 million people will use the Internet by 2020, the RAEC said.

E-commerce is estimated at 1.238 trillion rubles with 36% of users making purchases online. “Retail online exports amount to U.S. $2 billion, including goods, digital goods and services. Online retail is valued at 706 billion rubles, up 18%, and online travel at 363 billion rubles, up 15%,” the RAEC said.

Infrastructure and software are estimated at 2 trillion rubles.

“Today, the input of the mobile economy in Russia’s GDP is at 3.7%. According to forecasts, its contribution to the economic growth will be at 7.5% by 2021 and its input in the GDP will be 4.7%,” the RAEC said.

(55.9793 rubles – U.S. $1)

End