Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum kicks off in Kazan

The XVI International Economic Forum "Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum" starts in the capital of Tatarstan on 13 May. More than 10,000 people from more than 100 countries will take part in the forum, according to TV BRICS.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent greetings to the participants of the event. He noted that the forum will consider the prospects of strengthening ties between Russia and the countries of the Islamic world in various fields.

"For centuries, our multinational country has been open for broad interaction with the states of the Islamic world. [...] We continue to successfully and consistently expand economic, scientific, educational, humanitarian, interregional contacts"

Among the honoured guests of KazanForum are Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Zhamshid Khodjaev, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs, of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, and others. Among the countries that will be represented by the largest delegations are Malaysia, the UAE, Iran, Nigeria, Senegal.

Around 100 agreements are scheduled to be signed during the forum, ranging from investment projects to humanitarian initiatives.

The main programme of the event includes over 140 thematic sessions devoted to Islamic finance, development of multimodal transport corridors, export of Russian halal products, culture, education, and other topics. On 14 May participants will discuss tourism cooperation between Russia and OIC countries, and on 15 May – cooperation within the framework of the International Association of BRICS Special Economic Zones.

The main theme of KazanForum is “Digitalisation: New Reality and Opportunities for Expanding Cooperation”. A plenary session will be dedicated to it on 16 May. In addition, the forum will host round tables with Malaysia and Kazakhstan, an industrial dialogue with Iran, a meeting of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group, the Russian-Egyptian Commission, the International Transport Corridor and the North-South Caspian International Integration Club, a congress of OIC culture ministers and a meeting of foreign ambassadors in Russia.

The organisers promise a rich programme for young people as well. Participants will have an opportunity to solve non-standard tasks in the quiz game “MEMediation in development", go to an autograph session with famous football players, follow the fights of more than 100 chefs from different countries at the international tournament of young chefs, learn more about global trends and cultural exchange at the media session with popular bloggers. There will also be screenings of feature films.

In 2024 KazanForum gathered over 20.5 thousand people. The number of participating countries has significantly increased compared to last year, when the forum was attended by representatives of 87 countries.