"Kommersant", April 17, 2003

Internet projects are becoming profitable

The Ozon Internet shop, which sells books and CDs, also became profitable last year. The RosBusinessConsulting company (RBC) also scored success. In 2002, RBC's revenues amounted to $27.5m, including $7.65m directly from Internet advertising. Moreover, last year RBC was the first Russian company in the history of the IT business to hold an initial public offering of its shares on the Russian stock market and to be ranked in Technology Fast 500, the European list of the fastest growing hi-tech companies compiled by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu company.

A great number of Russian sites, which survived on the ruins of the Internet boom of the beginning of the decade, are ready to continue their dynamic development today, including in related industries. For example, last year Rambler and RBC were with varying success involved in expansion on the television market.

Anna Palycheva, Ivan Cheberko