The Process of Digital Transformation of the Economies of the SCO Member States in the Context of the Transition to a Multipolar World

Introduction . The article examines the current issues of digitalization in the countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), driven by fundamental shifts in the global economic architecture post-2022. Geopolitical transformation and sanctions pressure have significantly impacted the pace of technological modernization in the member states. The SCO countries, possessing substantial economic potential (accounting for nearly half of global GDP and the world's population), have faced the need to accelerate the development of digital infrastructure to ensure technological sovereignty. Materials and methods . The research is based on official documents and strategic materials, including national digitalization programs of SCO member states, such as the "Digital Economy of the Russian Federation" program, China's "Digital China" initiative, and India's "Digital India" program. Official reports from ministries and agencies, documents of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as materials from SCO forums and working groups on the digital economy, including the outcomes of the Tianjin Digital Economy Forum 2025, were analyzed. The author employed methods of induction, deduction, generalization, synthesis, and comparison for systematic analysis. Results of the study . The study revealed a significant acceleration in the pace of digital transformation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries in the period after 2022. A sustained positive trend is observed in key digitalization indicators across both the real and financial sectors of the economy. SCO countries demonstrate diverse models of digital transformation, shaped by their level of technological development, institutional specifics, and national policy priorities. Discussion and conclusion . In the real sector of the economy, the most significant results have been achieved in the oil and gas industry. The implementation of digital twin technologies for fields has optimized exploration and production processes, reducing operational costs by 15-20%. The establishment of Drilling and Well Construction Control Centers has become a key achievement in the digitalization of the fuel and energy complex – these systems enable 24/7 monitoring and process optimization, reducing the well construction cycle by 40% on average across the industry. The Industrial Internet of Things is being actively implemented at enterprises, with Chinese companies leading in creating "smart factories" with automation levels of up to 90%, while Russian industrial enterprises have achieved a 25-30% increase in labor productivity through digital equipment monitoring systems. The financial sector of the SCO countries shows impressive digitalization results. National fintech initiatives demonstrate rapid development: the Russian Federation has successfully implemented a fast payment system and launched pilot projects for the digital ruble, China is expanding the use of the digital yuan in cross-border settlements, and India has achieved significant success in developing the Unified Payments Interface, indicating successful development of mechanisms to reduce dependence on the dollar system. However, significant challenges were also identified. Infrastructure problems remain a major barrier – the uneven development of telecommunications infrastructure is particularly evident in rural and remote regions of Central Asia, where broadband internet penetration does not exceed 40%. Regulatory barriers, including differences in personal data legislation and the lack of mutual recognition of electronic signatures, complicate cross-border information exchange. The shortage of qualified personnel is estimated at 1.5-2 million people among SCO countries, with a significant gap between industry requirements and the competencies of graduates from educational institutions.