Moscow is the capital of Russia, the largest city in the country and Europe, and one of the largest cities in the world. Moscow refers to global cities having a great influence on the world because of its high economic level and population. It is the main transport hub of Russia, its political, economic, cultural, and scientific center. The city is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and is well known for its display of Russian architecture such as the Saint Basil's Cathedral, the Red Square, and the Moscow Kremlin, of which the latter serves as the seat of power of the Government of Russia.
The Government of Moscow is the highest executive body of state authority of Moscow. The Government of Moscow is headed by the highest official of the city of Moscow, i.e. the Mayor of Moscow. The members of the Government of Moscow are the Mayor of Moscow, the Deputy Mayors of Moscow in the Moscow Government and the Moscow Government ministers. The Government of Moscow issues orders that are signed by the Mayor of Moscow. The Government of Moscow has legal personality. Structure and functioning of the Government of Moscow are established by the law of Moscow, adopted by Moscow City Duma. According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, Moscow is an independent federal subject of the Russian Federation, a so-called city of federal importance.
Moscow has one of the world's largest urban economies, being ranked as an alpha global city, and is also one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world. Moscow is home to the third-highest number of billionaires of any city in the world, and has the highest number of billionaires of any city in Europe.
The Russian government is pursuing a 6.3 trillion ruble ($96 billion) six-year modernization plan to revamp the country's highways, airports, railways, ports and other transport infrastructure through 2024. The comprehensive plan is geared toward improving the connectivity of Russian regions, as well as developing strategic routes including the Europe-Western China transport corridor and the Northern Sea Route. The plan stems from President Vladimir Putin’s ambitious domestic goals outlined after his inauguration last May. Under a presidential decree, a 3.5 trillion ruble investment fund was set up last summer to finance around 170 construction and other projects from 2019 to 2024.
Spending a few short days in Moscow is enough to see the impact technology plays in everyday life. Charging stations are available at train stations and bus stops, fares can be paid with digital wallets like ApplePay, and interactive digital maps show residents where their public transport is, and when it’s likely to arrive. It’s not just public transport benefitting from the internet of everything – government and public utility vehicles (ranging from snow ploughs to mobile street-cleaners) are also connected to a centralized system, monitoring and improving their operations. With positioning, speed, and fuel count all tracked, municipal transport can use optimized routes and minimize energy consumption – handy during cold Russian winters. The city is also ahead of the curve on many technological trends – not least of which, bitcoin, which can be deposited in over 100 one-way cryptocurrency ATMs across the city. Imagine the raised eyebrows when that development was first announced – but as recent headlines about Bitcoin’s sharply increasing share prices illustrate, the decision has since been vindicated.