Among the numerous agreements, deals and collaboration agreements between Moscow and Havana that have been announced in recent years, the energy, metallurgy, transport and tourism sectors stand out. But one area is barely mentioned: the penetration of Russian computer companies on the island.
Computer development firms, especially cybersecurity ones in Russia, have begun, discreetly, to set their sights on Cuba with two purposes, according to their own statements: to export software and applications to implement their technologies in new markets, displacing those of the West; and seeking to reach Latin American countries to which they have little access.
The Russian Council on International Affairs prepared a study, entitled “Exporting Russian Technological Solutions to Latin America: Results and Prospects,” in which it outlined Cuba's role in this effort.
As part of the study, Alexander Volkov, general director and manager of international markets at the firm GenIT Co., dedicated to the development of software and the automation of federal retail chains and other companies in Russia and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), comprised of several ex-Soviet nations, outlined how Cuba supports Moscow's goals in the field.
From Friendly Country to Springboard
According to Volkov, the selection of Latin America as the target market for Russian computer products was not "by chance."
"In Latin America there is a demand for technological solutions independent of manufacturers from the US and other Western countries, and, consequently, a trend towards the diversification of companies' IT landscape," he says.
Volkov recognizes that the frequency of personal data leaks and the detection of "back doors" that allow external agents to penetrate networks makes data security a top priority for countries in the region. The businessman says that this fragility is due to "the acquisition of products from some companies in the United States and Europe," though without explaining how the implementation of Russian software would immunize the destination countries from that interference.
"In 2023, GenIT Co. entered the Latin American market for the first time; in particular, Cuba. Cuba was chosen for several reasons. First of all, Cubans are culturally and historically close to us, which facilitated the forging of contacts. Secondly, this country actively cooperates with other States in the region, which is necessary for greater penetration in neighboring markets," he stated.
"Third, in Cuba there is a demand for technological equipment and software for the domestic market at the basic level. This need is quite easy to meet without involving expensive and highly qualified specialists, especially given the small size of the market and the availability of our own human resources," he added.
There is one factor, however, that Volkov mentions that could shoot to the top of his list: "In turn, the rest of the countries in the region are very afraid of secondary sanctions due to cooperation with Russian companies, but they are willing to work with Cuban ones, whether it is a joint venture or a completely Cuban legal entity. (...) Therefore, it is worth working with Cuba. It is necessary to create a representative office and get into the Latin American market through mediation."
What is GenIT?
The Russian firm GenIT, created in 2018, presents itself as a system integrator that automates companies, integrates commercial services, and develops customized software. Its flagship product, the Red Mule integration solution for SMBs, is operated at more than 25,000 infrastructures in place at the largest firms in Russia, which use it for their data exchange.
According to its developers, Red Mule operates as a substitute for popular international tools, such as Apache Kafka, IBM WebSphere, Microsoft BizTalk, the MuleSoft Anypoint platform, OpenESB, and Oracle ESB, among others. Its use in Russia's largest federal enterprises makes it a central element of the national computer system.
GenIT, a resident of the Skolkovo Innovation Center, a technology park in the Moscow region known as "the Russian Silicon Valley," is part of the cybersecurity fabric launched by the Kremlin and included in the government's economic development and innovation economy program since 2013.
The company claims to have, according to Volkov, "colleagues who live in Latin American countries permanently and represent the company's interests."
The version of Red Mule for Latin America and also English-speaking countries has been dubbed "Voltah." Volkov openly acknowledges the reason for this name: "The launch of the separate Voltah brand was aimed at ensuring that the company's Russian origins could not affect potential customers in other countries."
The Russian Software's Cuban Connection
With whom does GenIT work in Cuba? Where is the headquarters on the island?
According to Volkov, José Antonio Echeverría Technological University in Havana (CUJAE) was the gateway to the Cuban institutional system, given that "it has educational programs in Russian, which also has a positive effect on interaction and teamwork. Graduates of these programs are able to support Russian products in other markets and are open to research and development initiatives."
But the Havana Science and Technology Park, located at the University of Computer Sciences (UCI) is the critical point in the exchange. In November of 2024, during the Havana International Fair (FIHAV 2024), Russian businessmen and officials in attendance visited the institution, according to institutional reports, which mentioned interest in promoting bilateral collaboration, but not penetrating the markets of neighboring countries using Cuba as a springboard.
However, the main starting point for these contacts dates back to February 2024, when a strategic partnership was officially created between Moscow and Havana, following the signing of an agreement governing the right to distribute and support software in the region.
According to Volkov, at FIHAV 2024 Miguel Díaz-Canel was presented "a new project to create a Russian-Cuban platform for the introduction of digital technologies into the Republic of Cuba. The agreement on the creation was signed a few days later, in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, Ricardo Cabrisas, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Chernyshenko."
The Voltah-Aicros Alliance
Cuba's Ministry of Communications (MINCOM) sponsored what amounts to the most visible alliance between GenIT and Cuban companies: the state firm Voltah-Aicross, with which the Russian federal company seeks to conceal its identity. Interestingly, the Cuban agent in the alliance, Aicros, belongs to the Construction Ministry (MICONS).
Created in 1966 as the MICONS' modest Department of Calculation and Applied Mathematics, which evolved three years later into the Center for Applied Mathematics and Construction Computing (CEMACC), before ending up becoming the Computer and Automation Company for Construction (Aicros), in 2004, its decades of experience and its civil function are, ostensibly, assets exploited by Moscow to pursue its purposes.
On October 26 the Cuban entity announced the alliance on its X profile, stating that Aicros was, as of said date, the "official distributor in Latin America of the Russian data integration platform."
According to Volkov, who calls this project the Russia-Cuba Platform for the Introduction of Digital Technologies, with the support of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, through it "GenIT's national technological solutions and Russian partner companies will be implementable in Latin American markets. The platform positions Cuba as a gateway through which products can be distributed to other countries in the region. "
On November 4, as part of the inauguration of FIHAV 2024, Miguel Díaz-Canel visited the company's pavilion.
"It is assumed that the Platform will also provide services to support Russian companies, and comprehensive support, including an explanation of the details of product localization for the Latin American market, taking into account the regulatory policy and regulations of each country, as well as the mechanisms for financial interaction; for example, how to transfer profits to Russia," Volkov clarified.
The Russian businessman praised Cuban developers' willingness to create their own products. Specifically, he mentioned a version of the Yandex Taxi app, created on the island and based on the largest online taxi booking service in Moscow and other cities in Russia, used by about 200 companies operating some 20,000 taxis.
Interestingly, in September 2024, the authorities of Georgia, a former Soviet republic that is not part of the CIS, but uses Russian software, complained that the operator of the Yandex Taxi application in that country had illegally transferred personal data to Russia.
Volkov also celebrated that Cuba "is also creating applications for the purchase of goods from China and the United States with delivery, as a result of which sanctions and logistics are less visible to the end user." The above was a reference to online stores promoted by the Cuban regime at which emigrants make purchases for their relatives on the island.
"For Russian companies, Cuba is a reliable ally in the struggle against US sanctions. This country is not afraid of the new restrictions, so it is open to mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia and Russian companies," the Russian businessman affirmed.
But, he stated: "It is necessary to enter the Cuban market as soon as possible. (...) Spanish and Canadian companies are actively occupying their niche, with their presence being felt in the region. Whoever gets in first will get a big chunk of the market."
But GenIT would have political advantages. According to Volkov, his company "is deeply immersed in the system of interaction between Cuban companies and the authorities that provide support to entrepreneurs. For example, many issues with the Cuban Ministry of Communications mentioned above are discussed with messengers, and agreements are reached in the same way: in the direct operational communication format. This communication is of great importance to companies: the support of the Cuban Government means that all actions and decisions are not carried out with the aim of extracting short-term benefits, but rather are aimed at long-term strategic cooperation."
He also noted that "only companies with state participation have the right to conclude import contracts, which, consequently, are accountable to a particular competent ministry. As a result, an important advantage is generated: administrative and state bodies act as guarantors of compliance with obligations. For example, if there are difficulties with payments, this issue is discussed in working groups with participation by representatives of the authorities of both parties."
The Chicken in Rice with Chicken
What are the Latin American countries that Moscow is interested in? Volkov has no qualms about airing that information.
"You can distinguish five countries that are characterized as the largest, the most developed and the most solvent markets. First of all, we are talking about Brazil, with the largest market in the region, where there is a boom in fintech startups. The work with this country is built on a separate track, within the framework of cooperation with the Sorocaba Technology Park, in the State of São Paulo, where 40 IT companies are concentrated."
"In Mexico, financial technologies, smart cities, the Internet of Things and digital twins are also being actively developed; that is, a total transformation of the industry is taking place. The other countries are Argentina, Chile and Colombia."
Volkov says that the Latin American market "may turn towards Russian technological solutions: the question is whether these opportunities will be taken advantage of," since "the main problem with domestic software products in the Latin American market is the lack of localization. Few companies actually reach the stage of adapting their solutions to market needs. The reason for this drawback is that, unlike Western competitors, such as Microsoft or Oracle, Russian companies often do not focus on the international market when creating their products, but instead try to export ready-to-use solutions originally made for sale in Russia."
And here's the bottom line: "The highest-priority sector, which should be discussed first, is information security, as it is impossible to build other processes without reliable encryption and personal data protection. (...) It is for this purpose that our Cuban colleagues are creating the Center for Information Security, in which the Russia-Cuba Platform is participating."
Therefore, the entrepreneur pointed out, the Cuban Communications Ministry proposed creating a National Cybersecurity Center. Russian companies were invited to join this initiative. "GenIT and its partners are open to not only commercial, but also academic and research-related cooperation," he said
In view of the attention that the Cuban regime has dedicated to social surveillance and control of the networks, the alliance with Moscow does not fail to take advantage of its extensive experience in the cyber-surveillance of dissent, for which, until now, cooperation with Beijing was essential.
Russia's computer penetration goes further, however, and entails access to valuable data of Cuban emigrants and their relatives on the island, among others of value for intelligence work. Ties with Havana's repressive apparatus, thus, are part of Moscow's plans. The second part of this report will be dedicated to this.
