UNDP-Russia Trust Fund for Development representative addresses webinar for "digital attachés"

On February 12, 2026, Anastasia Maximova, Acting Head of the UNDP-Russia Trust Fund for Development, took part in a webinar organized by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development for "digital attachés". The latter are trade mission staff responsible for promoting Russian digital solutions abroad. The meeting brought together Russian representatives from Argentina, Cuba, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, the Philippines, South Africa (also accredited to Zimbabwe), Thailand, the UAE, and Vietnam.

During her presentation, Ms. Maximova highlighted the opportunities that UN and UNDP procurement systems offer for IT solution providers, as well as the financing mechanisms available to importers of Russian digital products. She noted that participation in UN procurement provides companies with access to a predictable market, helps build a project portfolio that demonstrates compliance with high international standards, and strengthens their reputation as reliable partners in the eyes of governments and private sector stakeholders in developing countries.

The discussion on overcoming barriers to accessing the UN procurement system generated particular interest among participants. "Procurement within the UN system may indeed seem complex due to extensive application requirements. However, it is important not to be discouraged after the first attempt. Once a company has prepared a full package of documents, subsequent bids typically require only updated pricing and project proposals. Even small contracts can open the door to larger procurement opportunities. Each successfully implemented project strengthens a company's evaluation in future bidding processes," emphasized the Trust Fund representative.

The webinar also addressed UNDP's growing demand for digital solutions, ranging from public service management platforms to analytics tools, cybersecurity systems, and digital identification technologies. The organization views digitalization as a key driver for reducing inequality between countries and actively supports national governments in bridging the digital divide.