[56745] Slowdown in Russian High-Tech Investments and Fears of Economic Stagnation

Slowdown in Investments in the Technology and Communications Sector in Russia

The Russian Ministry of Communications (Ministry of Digital Development) has confirmed that there has been a significant slowdown in the growth rate of investments in the IT and communications sectors in Russia. According to a report by the channel Раньше всех. Ну почти., citing data from 'Kommersant', the growth in 2025 compared to 2020 stood at only 37.4%, against a target of 46.7%.

The causes for the slowdown, according to Сети и сигналы, include high interest rates in the economy, the cancellation of tax benefits and subsidies, as well as macroeconomic uncertainty and a severe labor shortage. Experts note that "if investments do not recover in 2026–2027, this will pose a risk to the stability of the digital infrastructure and the technological sovereignty" of the country.

At the same time, concern is evident in broader sectors. As reported by Отраковский Иван Александрович, the volume of problematic debt (payment arrears) among industrial and scientific enterprises is approaching 8.5 trillion rubles. The channel, which presents a critical line toward the government, warns that "the Russian economy is balancing on the verge of a prolonged recession," while pointing to delays in wage payments and difficulties in loan repayment.

Conversely, the government is broadcasting optimism regarding the labor market. In an interview with 'Vedomosti' cited in Говорит Москва, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak estimated that the unemployment rate will remain low, hovering around 2.3%-2.4% until 2030, due to demographic constraints and an attempt to rely on recruiting young people and retirees into the labor market.