Russia bans state procurements of some types of foreign electronics

MOSCOW, Sep 1 (PRIME) -- The Russian government has prohibited its agencies from buying some types of foreign electronic products, the Industry and Trade Ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday.

“The ban covers imported integrated microelectronic circuits, chip cards, laptops, tablets, computers, servers, and lighting products,” the statement read.

State-owned organizations will have to use the “second is odd” principle, under which it has to turn down all bids with foreign equipment if there is even one bid with national equipment for other electronics and electronic medical equipment.

The principle will be in force for the communications equipment, security and fire alarms, sound equipment, monitors, navigation and measuring equipment, CT scanners, X-ray units, endoscopes, ECG machines, and other types of electronics.

“This act is a logical consequence of the principal policy on imports substitution that the Industry and Trade Ministry has been conducting. The act had a tough road to walk, it faced serious opposition on the way, but we did it in the end,” Deputy Minister Vasily Shpak said as quoted by the ministry.

“In the future, we will continue to create favorable conditions and opportunities for the development and strengthening of positions of Russian electronics producers.”

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