- Russia -Islamic World: Kazan Forum 2024 Breaks Russian Isolation
- Russia-Islamic World” Kazan Forum 2024 Bridges Russia with OIC countries for Cooperation
- Russian, OIC countries Meet in Kazan to enhance cooperation in trade, economic, investment, industrial, scientific, and technological cooperation, social and cultural areas.
Islamabad: The 15th International Economic Forum “Russia-Islamic World” concluded in Kazan, the capital of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan.
The forum was held for enhancing cooperation between the Russian and OIC countries in the trade, economic, investment, industrial, scientific, technological cooperation, as well as social and cultural sectors.
Besides the trade cooperation, Kazan Forum aimed to break Russian isolation, and expand Islamic finance and the halal industry in Russia, and create new markets and economic opportunities for investors from member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The 2024 edition of Russia -Islamic World: Kazan Forum was attended by representatives from international organizations, public and financial institutions, embassy officials, lawmakers, investors, and businesspeople, offering participants in the business community the opportunity to find trade, financial and technological partners, expand into new markets and attract new investments.
In a statement issued to mark the event, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to strengthen ties between Moscow and Muslim countries through interregional and interstate collaboration.
‘The Islamic world is actively developing and has important accomplishments in trade, finance, innovations and applied scientific research. Russia is open to extensive business and cultural cooperation with Muslim countries,’ the Russian leader said, adding that the Russian Muslim community would ‘play an important role in expanding international contacts.’
Speaking at the 14th National Identity and Religion all-Russian forum, Marat Khusnullin, Deputy Prime Minister and head of the organising committee of Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum, said “I would like to thank the Muslim clergy representatives, who have arrived in Kazan from across all Russia, as well as the leadership of the Republic of Tatarstan, for joining efforts to contribute to the sustainable development of the Russian statehood,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
Overall, the forum brought together more than 1,000 religious figures and guests from over 70 Russian regions, including the Donetsk People’s Republic. The sessions at discussion platforms have focused on the preservation of traditional spiritual and moral values of the Tatar people and the Tatar language, as well as issues related to Islamic education.
“We put extensive efforts in cooperating with the Islamic world to actively interact with them in many areas. KazanForum has become a major platform for discussing economic cooperation. Following the President’s decision, it has taken place in its new federal status for the second year in a row.
Head of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, addressing the forum participants, said “ We appreciate Mr Khusnullin’s immense support in organising the event. Obviously, we are facing challenging times. Yet, our partners from Islamic countries have joined us, seeking to cooperate with us comprehensively – which resonates with 20 million Muslims in Russia. I extend my particular gratitude to you, dear religious leaders. Our priorities include preserving our native language, ethnic culture, and traditions. You are making an immense contribution to this essential task,”
The delegations of Islamic countries met separately with HE President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, His Excellency Mr. Marat Khusnulin, HE Deputy Chairman of the Government of Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin, and HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Tatarstan Oleg Korobchenko.
During the meetings, leaders from Russia and OIC countries discussed topics of common concern that aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the trade, investment, and industrial fields. In addition, they exchanged views on topics on the forum’s agenda.
The event also featured the ‘Russia Halal Expo’ and ‘Russia Halal Market’ exhibitions, as well as the ‘Modest Fashion Day’ fashion show for conservative clothing.
The participating investors, businesspersons, company owners , officials and the delegates toured the “Russia Halal Expo,” showcasing the business activities and events, and panel discussions that focused on several topics, including sectors of Islamic finance, halal industry, international cooperation, logistics, industry, sustainable development, environmental, social, and institutional governance, information technology, innovation, investment, entrepreneurship, SMEs, education, medicine, and sports.
The forum hosted special sessions on the media, on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the founding of the OIC, under the title ‘the main trends in the transformation of the information field in the modern world and the countries of the OIC”.
The sessions highlighted modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of things, and cloud computing and its impact on shaping contemporary information.
By: Dr.Muhammad Arif, Editor, The Silk Road Times
