2001.04.12: April 12, 2001: Headlines: COS - Russia: COS - Turkmenistan: Computers: Internet: Software Industry: Internet News: Turkmenistan RPCV Ryan Haley writes: Esther Dyson, one of the digital industry's sharpest minds, knows that Russian society is filled with corrupt, well-connected oligarchs. But she still thinks it's a good place for U.S. investors to back software and technology companies.
Peace Corps Online:
Directory:
Russia:
Peace Corps Russia :
The Peace Corps in Russia:
2001.04.12: April 12, 2001: Headlines: COS - Russia: COS - Turkmenistan: Computers: Internet: Software Industry: Internet News: Turkmenistan RPCV Ryan Haley writes: Esther Dyson, one of the digital industry's sharpest minds, knows that Russian society is filled with corrupt, well-connected oligarchs. But she still thinks it's a good place for U.S. investors to back software and technology companies.
Turkmenistan RPCV Ryan Haley writes: Esther Dyson, one of the digital industry's sharpest minds, knows that Russian society is filled with corrupt, well-connected oligarchs. But she still thinks it's a good place for U.S. investors to back software and technology companies.
Dyson contrasted the bright self-starters who lead the Russian software industry with the power players in other corrupt sectors of the Russian economy, such as energy or construction. She said the country's software industry was unique in allowing for a higher degree of communication and information sharing -- significant in a traditionally tight-lipped business culture that equates knowledge with power. In addition, the software industry is set apart by being covered by an active press.
Turkmenistan RPCV Ryan Haley writes: Esther Dyson, one of the digital industry's sharpest minds, knows that Russian society is filled with corrupt, well-connected oligarchs. But she still thinks it's a good place for U.S. investors to back software and technology companies.
Russia: Different Worlds, One Country
By Ryan Haley
Esther Dyson, one of the digital industry's sharpest minds, knows that Russian society is filled with corrupt, well-connected oligarchs. But she still thinks it's a good place for U.S. investors to back software and technology companies.
"The software industry is a separate world operating in a Russia that is still far behind," Dyson, chairman of EDventure Holdings, told attendees of a Newton, Mass., software development conference Wednesday sponsored by the U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce.
Dyson contrasted the bright self-starters who lead the Russian software industry with the power players in other corrupt sectors of the Russian economy, such as energy or construction.
She said the country's software industry was unique in allowing for a higher degree of communication and information sharing -- significant in a traditionally tight-lipped business culture that equates knowledge with power. In addition, the software industry is set apart by being covered by an active press.
Dyson encouraged Americans seeking to invest or find partners in Russia to come with more than money. "Don't just give venture capital, support the company," she insisted, saying that guidance and training were of equal or more value to Russian startups.
She also urged Americans to research Russian companies carefully and invest selectively.
"I personally do not invest in Russia," Dyson said. "I invest in companies."
Dyson challenged Americans to do business honestly in Russia, in spite of the country's reputation for corruption and bribery. Paying bribes legitimizes the practice, she said, by teaching Russians "that Americans do it too, and brings out the worst in both cultures."
According to the keynote speaker, the Russian government's commitment to the rule of law and the country's current educational crisis are key issues that will affect the future of the software industry and the economy as a whole.
To reduce corruption, Dyson argued that the government must back up its rhetoric about the rule of law. She hopes that the software industry's fresh voices will become more involved in politics to influence this process.
The decline of Russia's underfunded educational system is another serious problem, she said -- a trend that threatens the future of the country's burgeoning information industry, which to this point has relied on young talent. Dyson encouraged investment as a response to this danger, saying, "If I had $1 billion to invest, I would invest half of it in the Russian educational system. I would expect a great return on that."
Brian Phelps, CEO of Vested Development, said Dyson's background made him prepared to accept her arguments, especially about the difference between the software industry and other sectors in Russia: "Esther has a long history as an IT professional in Russia. She's one of the only American IT luminaries (to have spent time) there."
Giacomo Roma, international sales director for Reksoft of St. Petersburg, said that any messages of cooperation between American and Russian partners are welcome. "It's very important to find the right person to do business with," he said. "Both companies must be willing to listen to each other. That is the most important thing."
Freelance writer Ryan Haley is a former Peace Corps volunteer in Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic.
When this story was posted in April 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
 | The Peace Corps Library
The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory. New: Sign up to receive PCOL Magazine, our free Monthly Magazine by email. Like to keep up with Peace Corps news as it happens? Sign up to recieve a daily summary of Peace Corps stories from around the world. |
 | PCOL readership increases 100%
Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come. |
 | History of the Peace Corps
PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help. |
 | PC announces new program in Cambodia
Director Vasquez and Cambodia's Deputy Chief of Mission Meng Eang Nay announced a historic new partnership between the Peace Corps and the Kingdom of Cambodia that will bring volunteers to this Southeast Asian country for the first time. Under King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cambodia has welcomed new partnerships with the U.S. government and other U.S. organizations. |
 | Peace Corps suspends program in Bangladesh
Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez announced the suspension of the Peace Corps program in Bangladesh on March 15. The safety and security of volunteers is the number one priority of the Peace Corps. Therefore, all Peace Corps volunteers serving in Bangladesh have safely left the country. More than 280 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Bangladesh since the program opened in November 1998. Latest: What other newspapers say. |
 | Invitee re-assigned after inflammatory remarks
The Peace Corps has pulled the invitation to Derek Volkart to join the Morocco Training Program and offered him a position in the Pacific instead after officials read an article in which he stated that his decision to join the Peace Corps was in "response to our current fascist government." RPCV Lew Nash says that "If Derek Volkart spoke his mind as freely in Morocco about the Moroccan monarchy it could cause major problems for himself and other Peace Corps volunteers." Latest: Volkart reverses stance, takes new assignment in Paraguay. |
 | March 1, 1961: Keeping Kennedy's Promise
On March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy issues Executive Order #10924, establishing the Peace Corps as a new agency: "Life in the Peace Corps will not be easy. There will be no salary and allowances will be at a level sufficient only to maintain health and meet basic needs. Men and women will be expected to work and live alongside the nationals of the country in which they are stationed--doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language. But if the life will not be easy, it will be rich and satisfying. For every young American who participates in the Peace Corps--who works in a foreign land--will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace. " |
 | Paid Vacations in the Third World?
Retired diplomat Peter Rice has written a letter to the Wall Street Journal stating that Peace Corps "is really just a U.S. government program for paid vacations in the Third World." Director Vasquez has responded that "the small stipend volunteers receive during their two years of service is more than returned in the understanding fostered in communities throughout the world and here at home." What do RPCVs think? |
 | RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps
Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case. |
 | Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger
When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject. |
 | Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong
170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community. |
Read the stories and leave your comments.
Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.
Story Source: Internet News
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Russia; COS - Turkmenistan; Computers; Internet; Software Industry
PCOL32474
01
