Identifying Promising Niches for Russian Technologies and Digital Platform Solutions in the South African Market

The article is devoted to identifying promising niches for Russian technologies and digital platform solutions in the South African market. An original methodology for assessing the potential for their implementation is proposed, which considers indicators such as: GDP per capita (at PPP); the percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed upper secondary education; the logistics performance index; individuals using the Internet; mobile cellular subscriptions. It is established that South Africa possesses the greatest potential for the realization of Russian technologies and digital platform solutions among the African countries reviewed. Prospective niches are identified across six sectors: security, mining, digital public administration, healthcare, education, and agriculture. Primary attention is given to the digital public administration sector. To identify promising niches for Russian technologies and digital platform solutions in this area, a «Digital Health Map» of South Africa has been developed. This map has revealed the unevenness and selectivity of digitalization across the country. It is substantiated that, given the high competition from advanced corporations such as IBM, Google, Microsoft, Intel, and SAP, the most promising niches for Russian technologies and digital platform solutions are those where the current level of digitalization in South Africa is low or fragmented. These specific niches include: e-government and public services; biometric technologies; public procurement; integrated digital platforms in the social sphere. The article off ers unique approaches to determining the prospects for expanding Russia’s technological presence in Africa and can be utilized by Russian economic agencies when planning and implementing strategies for enhancing economic and technological cooperation with South Africa and other countries on the continent.