About forum

H.E. Hussein Brahim Taha Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Distinguished participants,

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

I would like to extend my gratitude to His Excellency President RustamMinnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia-Islamic World," for his kind invitation to this important annual meeting in the tolerant and hospitable city of Kazan. I commend his active leadership of this Group and his personal commitment to enhancing the relations of friendship and cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world.

I would also like to express my highest consideration to His Excellency President Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation; and to the Russian Government for the special emphasis they place on strengthening ties of friendship and cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. It is a matter of satisfaction for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation that dialogue and cooperation between the two sides have increased significantly since Russia obtained observer status at the OIC in 2005.

I wish to express my gratitude to His Excellency Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, for honoring with his presence this meeting, which testifies to the high importance he accords the relations between the Islamic world and Russia and the role played by the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia-Islamic World” in strengthening these relations.

The Group of Strategic Vision “Russia-Islamic World” has become a leading platform to strengthen friendship, dialogue and mutual understanding between Russia and the Islamic world. The OIC is keen on strengthening its contribution to the realization of the Group’s objective to serve common interests and contribute to the achievement of a world order based on the principles of sovereign equality of States, non-interference in their internal affairs, and respect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity. The OIC seeks a more balanced world order that would ensure international peace and security, justice, equal opportunities for the development of all States, and the preservation of their cultural, civilizational and religious values.

The OIC has paid growing importance to the issue of youth and welcomes the focus on this issue on the agenda of this year’s meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia-Islamic World.” The OIC General Secretariat supports the efforts and initiatives of the Republic of Tatarstan to promote cooperation in the field of youth empowerment and sports development. It is grateful to the organizers of the Kazan Global Youth Summit, which provides an important opportunity to discuss ways and means to cooperate to address the challenges facing young people.

Cooperation in youth policy may include sharing best practices in youth engagement and development, developing joint youth programs that foster intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding, providing youth with opportunities for sound education, promoting their involvement in science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, supporting initiatives that prioritize sports and healthy living, student exchanges, and preventing youth radicalization by addressing its root causes. Poverty, underdevelopment and economic exclusion are core contributors to violent extremism and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are the biggest victims of this phenomenon. In this regard, I would like to mention the adoption by the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, at its 50th Session, last August in Yaoundé, Cameroun, of the Statute of the OIC Youth Support Fund in the Sahel and Lake Chad Region, as a specialized institution to be an arm for the Organization’s strategies and efforts to combat extremism and terrorism.

Marat Khusnullin Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation

Dear participants and guests of the International Economic Forum «Russia – Islamic World»!
Today, KazanForum is not just the largest platform for dialogue between Russia and the Islamic world, but also a growth point for new investment projects. We are witnessing how modern transport and logistics routes are being developed on the basis of trusted partnerships, how the movement of goods is accelerating, new transport hubs are being created, and new opportunities for business cooperation are emerging.
Infrastructure plays a key role in this process – it connects countries, expands trade routes, and opens up markets. In recent years, the geopolitical landscape has changed dramatically, and we are actively restructuring our logistics chains. We see strong economic interest in the North–South International Transport Corridor from many countries.
The joint efforts of Russia and the Islamic world are already yielding tangible results: transport corridors are being established, strategic agreements in industry and energy are being signed, and new mechanisms of interaction between business and government are being developed.
Tatarstan has traditionally been a center of international investment and innovative solutions. KazanForum, as a space for uniting ideas and initiatives, not only fosters the emergence and development of partnerships based on the principles of a multipolar world and mutual trust, but also forms a stable platform for long‑term cooperation.
I am confident that our joint work at the forum will become a key driver of economic growth, creating favorable conditions for life and business.
I wish all participants a productive forum, constructive discussions, and the successful implementation of new projects!

Rustam Minnikhanov Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan

Dear participants and guests of KazanForum!
I am pleased to welcome you to the XVI International Economic Forum «Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum». Over the past years, it has become a key platform for direct dialogue between Russia and the Islamic world, strengthening trade and economic cooperation and expanding investment ties.
Today, KazanForum brings together representatives from governments, businesses, science, and public organizations, creating conditions for discussing current issues of international partnership. The focus is on new opportunities in the fields of investment, infrastructure, Islamic finance, and modern technologies.
The Forum is a platform based on trust. Here, every participant has access to open dialogue, support at the highest level, and prospects for long‑term cooperation. Tatarstan, which has for centuries connected the East and West, remains a reliable partner, ready to share experience and develop new formats of cooperation.
I am confident that KazanForum 2025 will be another significant milestone in the development of relations between Russia and the Islamic world.
I wish all participants productive work, new partnerships, and successful projects!

Sergey Lavrov Foreign Minister of Russian Federation

Dear participants and guests of the International Economic Forum «Russia – Islamic World»!
Today, KazanForum is not just the largest platform for dialogue between Russia and the Islamic world, but also a growth point for new investment projects. We are witnessing how modern transport and logistics routes are being developed on the basis of trusted partnerships, how the movement of goods is accelerating, new transport hubs are being created, and new opportunities for business cooperation are emerging.
Infrastructure plays a key role in this process – it connects countries, expands trade routes, and opens up markets. In recent years, the geopolitical landscape has changed dramatically, and we are actively restructuring our logistics chains. We see strong economic interest in the North–South International Transport Corridor from many countries.
The joint efforts of Russia and the Islamic world are already yielding tangible results: transport corridors are being established, strategic agreements in industry and energy are being signed, and new mechanisms of interaction between business and government are being developed.
Tatarstan has traditionally been a center of international investment and innovative solutions. KazanForum, as a space for uniting ideas and initiatives, not only fosters the emergence and development of partnerships based on the principles of a multipolar world and mutual trust, but also forms a stable platform for long‑term cooperation.
I am confident that our joint work at the forum will become a key driver of economic growth, creating favorable conditions for life and business.
I wish all participants a productive forum, constructive discussions, and the successful implementation of new projects!

Valentina Matvienko Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

On behalf of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and on my own behalf, I welcome the participants and guests of the International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”.

Over the years, the Forum has become an authoritative and sought-after platform for deepening the dialogue between Russia and countries of the Muslim world. Both bilateral interstate relations and cooperation through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation are actively evolving.

Russia places special emphasis on further expansion and strengthening of the relations with Muslim states. Our country is a vivid example of fruitful centuries-long cooperation and mutual understanding between the representatives of different nationalities, religions and cultures. Islam professing people have made a significant contribution to the development of Russia over the centuries.

We are united by common approaches to the formation of a more just multipolar world order, the desire to be guided by the generally recognized principles and norms of international law set forward in the Charter of the United Nations, the rejection of attempts to impose on the international community a unipolar, essentially neocolonial world order, based on the unilateral dictate of Washington and a narrow circle of its satellites.

Russia stands for strengthening the role of the States of the Islamic world in regional and world affairs. In this regard, we welcome the invitation of the largest Muslim states to BRICS and look forward to their active participation in the events within the framework of the Russian chairmanship in this association in 2024.

I am confident that the International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum” will give a new impetus to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the subjects of the Russian Federation and the regions of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, including in such important areas as economy and tourism, science and technology, finance and investment.

I wish you success and prosperity, and the speedy implementation of the agreements reached at the Forum for the benefit of our countries’ people.

Igor Levitin Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation

Russia has always pursued the goal of building a mutually beneficial, honest partnership with the Islamic world based on respect and protection of traditional values, peculiarities of national culture and identity. It was this approach that made it possible to form trusting, open relations and maintain an effective dialogue for joint implementation of global, strategic projects, consistent increase in mutual investments and trade turnover.

Elvira Nabiullina Head of Central Bank of Russia

The economy is going through a period of deep structural transformation. This requires significant financial resources. We are actively developing new instruments that can be used, among other things, to finance projects for technological modernization of the economy.
An additional investment vector could be the development of partnership financial instruments in Russia.
Starting September 1, 2023, we have launched a two-year experiment on the use of such instruments in four regions: the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Republic of Dagestan, the Republic of Tatarstan and the Chechen Republic. The experiment will help determine the scale of demand for such services among market participants and increase their availability for Russian citizens and small and medium-sized businesses.
In addition, partner financial instruments may create conditions for attracting foreign investment and expanding the geography of foreign trade.

Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen Ex-Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) (2016-2020)

KazanForum has always showcased the innovative and contemporary ideas in the area of Islamic Finance and Banking services, harmonization of Halal Food standards and certificates along with the youth and women empowerment in the social sector. It is my sincere hope that these new engagements with the Republic of Tatarstan and the entire Russian Federation will create a new vista in our very fruitful relations for the benefit of our peoples.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan The President of the Republic of Türkiye

I am confident that the Forum will contribute to the development of humanitarian, economic and cultural relations between our Muslim brothers in Russia and the Islamic world. In addition, it is especially important that the holding of the KazanForum in 2022 coincided with the celebration of 1100th anniversary of the adoption of Islam. I would like to say that we consider our Muslim brothers in Russia and the Republic of Tatarstan as a dominant component in strengthening the development of our relations with the Russian Federation. In whatever part of the world we live, our hearts, beliefs, qibla, azan and holy books are one. As the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) commanded, we should all unite like bricks building a wall, further strengthening solidarity and our spiritual bridges. Realizing this, we must never allow the distance between us to overshadow our brotherhood, which has existed since time immemorial. I believe that in the context of regional and global problems, it is very valuable to discuss the topics of Islamic finance, general banking, the halal industry, export development, entrepreneurship and investment issues within the framework of the Forum.

Almambet Shykmamatov Minister of Investments of the Kyrgyz Republic

It is no coincidence that it is Russia, as a vivid and unique example of a multinational and multi-confessional state, that initiates and seeks various points of contact and interaction between the Islamic world and Western civilization. One of the significant permanent events in this direction is the Kazan Economic Forum, which has been taking place in the hospitable capital of Tatarstan since 2009.

Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof Secretary General of the Ministry of the National Unity of Malaysia

On behalf of the Malaysia officials who attended the KazanForum, I would like to express my highest appreciation to the organizer for giving the Malaysian delegates to participate in the program.
As a panel speaker, I experienced various opportunities to further cooperate and collaborate with various international groups that could benefit the future economic enhancement among participating countries.
The forum also could be considered as a main platform to become a consultative tool that exposed the advantage of the Halal Industry that would penetrate the importance of the Russian economy and the global needs.
In addition, participants should also take advantage to explore the beauty of the culture by taking chances to have an excursion activity to learn about Russia and her surroundings.
In sum, the KazanForum is an opening gate to see lots of opportunities related to social economic collaborations.

H.E. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Former Prime Minister of Malaysia

Tatarstan shows high investment opportunities due to political stability and respect for the equal rights of all ethnic groups.

H.E. Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali Ex-President of the Islamic Development Bank

Thanks to the KazanForum, new relations develop between businessmen of Tatarstan and our countries.