Vnesheconombank (VEB), a major Russian state-backed bank and a key participant in the country’s official digital economy program, intends to teach government officials the science of Blockchain.
The 18-hour “Introduction to the Blockchain Technology” will include both theory and practice. The launch date has not been specified.
Just weeks before, the bank signed with Roseltorg, Russian e-procurement platform, a cooperation agreement to launch a joint a Blockchain-based project.
VEB’s head Sergey Gorkov believes that “the Blockchain technology will contribute to make transactions accurate, transparent and sound. It will also help reduce service time significantly, boost the operating efficiency and strengthen people’s trust in public authorities and financial institutions.”
Besides government bodies, the system will be useful to privately-owned companies, as well, believes Gorkov. “The new mechanism will help businesses interact with their clients and suppliers, improve the document exchange quality, enable stronger data confidentiality and underpin the customers’ confidence in the product suppliers”, he said.
The first phase of the project is scheduled for launch in late 2017 or early 2018.
This past summer VEB inked a partnership agreement with the Ethereum Foundation to develop and implement Blockchain-based government applications.
The agreement includes a “long-term and effective partnership in the implementation of projects using a distributed registry technology and the Ethereum platform,” as well as the formation of an Ethereum expert community.
The partners will also launch joint educational and training programs within an upcoming VEB Blockchain competence center.
Sources: Vedomosti, Vnesheconombank
