From Mexico’s Puebla to the Future: IT Russia Presents Its Mission in Latin America

The Mexican city of Puebla became a meeting point for experts, representatives of cooperation and development institutions, academics, journalists and business leaders from 11 Latin American countries. It hosted the 10th International Meeting of the Federation of Latin American Graduates of Universities in Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Cuba (FELAPEREACU), held under the motto “Friendship Among Nations as a Guarantee of World Peace.” Dmitry Fofanov, editor-in-chief of the international media platform IT Russia, joined the Russian delegation and presented a paper on digital cooperation between the Russian Federation and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

In Mexico City, the Russian delegation also held talks with members of the Chamber of Deputies of the General Congress and the Senate of the Republic, as well as leaders of the Mexican Youth Institute and representatives of academic and business communities. The talks were organized with the support of the Russian Embassy in the United Mexican States. Discussions focused on cooperation in ICT, science, internet security, the responsible use of AI and the development of online journalism.

The delegation’s visit marked another step toward strengthening technological cooperation between the two continents. The groundwork for this effort had been laid by the World Youth Festival and the Second Global Digital Forum, both previously held in Russia.

Strengthening Digital Ties

The 10th International Meeting opened on November 3 at the Benemérita Autonomous University of Puebla (BUAP), with events continuing throughout the week. Representatives from Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Chile, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Paraguay attended the opening ceremony. Sabina Abdulaeva, director of international cooperation at ANO DVFM, delivered the welcoming remarks. FELAPEREACU President Herminia Mariscal, meanwhile, recalled the organization's 20-year history of maintaining ties between graduates and their alma maters.

A special touch was added to the event by the presentation of the Pushkin Medal to its organizer, Carolina Gaspar Ramírez, director of the Mexico–Russia Cultural Center in Puebla. Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed the decree awarding her the medal. Gaspar Ramírez was in the Kremlin that week for the state awards ceremony, underscoring once again the warm cultural and humanitarian ties between the two countries.

“A Shared Vision of the Future”

One of the highlights of the academic program was Dmitry Fofanov’s presentation, “The Russia–Latin America Digital Bridge: From Dialogue to Technological Cooperation.” “Russia and the countries of Latin America share a vision of the future in which technology serves the well-being of humanity. As we develop international dialogue, we work with our partners across the full range of ICT, addressing practical challenges that improve people's lives,” the IT Russia editor-in-chief said. He also pointed out to the audience that the media platform provides a space for objective coverage of Russia’s ICT sector and its place in the global technology ecosystem, reaching an audience in around 70 countries.

The presentation also outlined promising areas for cooperation: the responsible development of AI, bridging the digital divide, technological sovereignty, regulation of emerging technologies and big data analysis. The latter includes satellite remote sensing to assess climate change in the ocean–atmosphere system and the effects of El Niño and La Niña climate patterns on regional economies. Successful examples of cooperation included Cuba's accession to the BRICS+ International AI Alliance and the Russian-Cuban ICT Olympiad, which also brought together participants from Asia, Africa and other regions.

IT Russia Opens Its Doors to Partners

The media platform aims to help foster an objective view of Russia's IT sector. That is why the delegation's visit included discussions on plans to expand the publication's reach through Spanish-, Arabic- and Chinese-language editions, as well as the possible opening of an IT Russia regional office in Latin America in the form of a correspondent bureau. The publication also invited universities, IT companies, independent experts, journalists and other organizations across the region to collaborate. They can share stories on the platform about the development of their own technologies, the use of Russian IT products and services, and new opportunities for international IT cooperation. Another area of focus is education: initiatives to train digital journalists and technology experts, with opportunities for student exchanges.

Three Continents, One Agenda

Dmitry Fofanov also held a series of meetings with a delegation of senior officials from Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), whose alumni were strongly represented at the Puebla forum. Both sides agreed that joint efforts to support national associations of Russian-speaking alumni in their countries of residence need to be strengthened by both academic institutions and the corporate sector. The relevance of this agenda was underscored by an address in Puebla to an audience of alumni from several generations by Ivan Dybov, director of Rosatom's Regional Center for Latin America.

The delegation's visit concluded on November 6. Participants not only reached agreements on key issues of international cooperation but also laid a solid foundation for new digital initiatives that will connect Russia and Latin America.