Mark Zuckerberg ‘friends’ Dmitry Medvedev
Russia’s tech-savvy PM Dmitry Medvedev tweeted this picture of himself with Mark Zuckerberg after their meeting in Moscow. He probably ought to have put it on Facebook.
Mark Zuckerberg is now friends with Dmitry Medvedev.
Facebook's whiz kid met the Russian prime minister in Moscow on Monday, on what was also the final stop on the Facebook World Hack Tour. To judge by a photo tweeted by Medvedev afterwards (via Facebook's Instagram, natch), the famously suit-shy Zuckerberg even dressed up for the occasion.
According to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the pair discussed potential opportunities in Russia's growing innovation sector.
"As you probably know, we in Russia have not only gas, not only oil, not only gold, not only diamonds – but also an IT industry," Medvedev is quoted as telling Zuckerberg.
More from GlobalPost: Zuckerberg disappointed by Facebook share price slump
Zuckerberg certainly does know, if the rumors are anything to go by. The Financial Times points out that Facebook remains a relative minnow in the world of Russian social networks, with around 10 million users nationally compared to the 40 million that log on to the largest home-grown version, VKontakte.
The main purpose of Zuckerberg's Moscow jaunt may be to scout for Russian talent and ideas, the FT speculates.
That seems to have Russian tech execs worried. RIA Novosti cited the founder of software developer IBS Group, Anatoly Karachinsky, as raising the prospect of a Facebook-led brain drain:
"Recently, a number of Russian programmers… have been invited for an interview at Facebook with Zuckerberg. Those who went said they were offered a job and immediate immigration to America."
Medvedev is keen to see resources going the other way, however. He and Zuckerberg discussed starting a Facebook research-and-development center in Russia as part of the planned Skolkovo innovation complex, Russia Today reported. They talked about Skolkovo, billed as the Russian answer to Silicon Valley, as "a place where startups could be of mutual interest," according to Medvedev's spokeswoman.
Watch your newsfeeds.
More from GlobalPost: Facebook finds Asia a challenge
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!