Digital sovereignty and the trust economy are named key themes of the RIF-2025

The key topics of the plenary session were digital sovereignty and audience trust in national internet services. Particular attention was paid to mechanisms for protecting digital infrastructure and developing a sustainable model for user interaction.

Opening the forum, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation Sergei Kiriyenko noted that only three countries in the world enjoy full digital sovereignty: Russia, China, and the United States. He asserted that external restrictions have not weakened the Russian internet segment; on the contrary, they have become a catalyst for its accelerated growth. Kiriyenko emphasized that the growth rate of the Russian internet economy has exceeded 40% annually for the second year in a row.

In his speech, Konstantin Mayor, CEO of the MAER media holding, stated that Russia is confidently forming its own digital ecosystem. He noted that the company is implementing original technological solutions and developing next-generation media, thereby contributing to strengthening the country's digital independence.

At the forum, the Russian Association of Electronic Communications (RAEC) presented a study titled "The Runet Economy." According to the published data, the total size of the Russian internet market in 2024 reached 24 trillion rubles, representing a 40% increase compared to the previous period. E-commerce accounted for the largest share of this figure, accounting for 91% of the total. According to forecasts, the market could reach 29.5–30.5 trillion rubles in 2025. Significant growth was also recorded in the "Marketing and Advertising" segments, up 53% to 1.23 trillion rubles, and "Digital Content" – up 53% to 0.25 trillion rubles.

Dmitry Gulyaev, Director of the Russian Association of Electronic Communications (RAEC), noted that the Russian internet economy is demonstrating resilience to external challenges and successfully adapting to new conditions. He added that national digital services are strengthening their position in the domestic market, while government support is helping to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions.

In the context of technological independence, Konstantin Mayor added that domestic companies are actively developing their own IT products, without relying on foreign counterparts. He cited the example of the media holding MAER, which was the first to undergo voluntary certification under the "Made in Russia" program and registered 29 technological solutions and 24 patents.

The RIF-2025 Forum is taking place from September 24 to 26 at the Moscow Country Club. The MAER media holding served as the event's communications partner.