Leonid Reiman, Russia's Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications (MITC), launched the country's campaign to become "the next global leader in outsourcing."

According to TechWeb's W. David Gardner, over 250 Russian firms are currently involved in offshore software development.

In addition, among the U.S. firms that oustsource work to Russia include New Hampshire-based AURIGA. The company recently sponsored an address by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at the Massachusetts Software Council.

Reiman said, "Our vision is for Russia to become a global center of innovation and entrepreneurship, a place where radically new, breakthrough technologies are developed."