The Gazprom headquarters hosted a working meeting between Andrey Kruglov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Committee – Head of the Department for Finance and Economics of Gazprom and Jim Bramante, Senior Vice President of IBM Growth Markets.

The parties discussed the issues of cooperation within the framework of the Gazprom Informatization Strategy implementation. The meeting focused on creation of technical systems infrastructure of the Gazprom data centers and the main trends of further cooperation.

Special attention was paid to the prospects of using the latest 'in memory computing' technology based solutions. This technology enables to significantly speed up the processing and analysis of data due to computing in the random-access memory of computer systems. The parties emphasized that service support and training of Gazprom's experts are necessary conditions for the effective use of advanced technologies.

During the meeting it was noted that Gazprom was systematically working on standardization of information systems in order to solve typical tasks, as well as unification of the software applied for information systems creation across the Group.

Summarizing the results of the meeting, the parties confirmed their interest in continuing the dialogue on the key trends of cooperation within the framework of the Informatization Strategy implementation.

Background

IBM Corporation is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of hardware, software, IT services and consulting services. The company currently operates in 15 Russian cities with offices in 10 Russian cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The Informatization Strategy was adopted by the Gazprom Management Committee's resolution on January 17, 2008. The Strategy defines key development directions for the Company's IT solutions ensuring the achievement of its strategic goals.

The target enterprise architecture outlined in the Gazprom Informatization Strategy relies on the maximum systems standardization in order to solve typical tasks, as well as unification of the software applied. At the same time, Gazprom Group has identified SAP AG software platform as the foundation of its target resource management system.

The Strategy is implemented in compliance with annually approved plans. The approved informatization projects portfolio stipulates performance of work in the following key areas:

• shaping vertically-integrated benchmark information and management systems (IMS) based on the Corporate Data Bank to support the corporate management processes in the gas business;
• creating benchmark IMS for subsidiary gas companies with due regard to Gazprom's business activities, as well as for energy business organizations;

introducing system-wide solutions ensuring information and technological integration of functional modules within the target enterprise architecture.