Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media Nikolai Nikiforov

BRICS ICT ministers could hold their first meeting in October

Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media Nikolai Nikiforov

"Russia has proposed adding cooperation in information and communications technology (ICT) to the BRICS Ufa Summit agenda and holding the first meeting of the five countries' communications ministers, tentatively scheduled for October," Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media Nikolai Nikiforov said after talks with his Indian counterpart, Ravi Shankar Prasad.

According to the Russian Minister, the BRICS countries may work out a joint plan of action to address the digital divide and cooperate on cyber security, management of critical segments of the Internet and joint development of software such as mobile and server operating systems, databases and office products.

"We want to formulate a common agenda for all of the ICT ministers in BRICS because there is so much overlap. My goal now is to talk through these issues individually with every minister and enlist their support," Mr. Nikiforov said.