Russia-Qatar Business Dialogue
Russia-Qatar Business Dialogue
Organizer: Business Russia All-Russia Public Organization
Venue: The Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center, Kazan
Time and date: May 16, 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Moderator: Alexander Larin, general board member, chairman of ENERGOTRANSPROEKT Group and chairman of the Tavolga Foundation for the Development of Science and Culture Science and Cutlture.
Invited speakers:
E.P. Sheikh Suheim bin Ahmed bin Sultan bin Jassim Al Thani, Director General of Al Adid Business
Pavel Kalmychek, Director at the Department of Bilateral Cooperation at the Russian Economic Development Ministry;
Mohamed Benbouadi, Managing Director for Professional Services at Qatar Financial Centre (QFC);
Sergey Machekhin, Deputy Director General for Project Engineering, Sustainable Development and International Cooperation of PJSC RusHydro;
Yousuf Mohammed Al Jaida, Member of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Financial Center Authority;
Igor Povarazdnyuk, Director General of Kama JSC;
Dr. Ahmed Al Enazi, the Planning and Strategic Initiative Director at Qatar Science & Technology Park;
Maxim Safonov, Director of the Center for Management of Environmental Development of Russia, IGSU, Presidential Academy;
E.P. Sheikh Suheim bin Ahmed bin Sultan bin Jassim Al Thani congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election as president of the Russian Federation as he opened his speech. “I express my gratitude to Mr. President Putin and I congratulate him on his election win. And, of course, I express my gratitude to the Republic of Tatarstan led by Rustam [Minnikhanov] for the warm welcome. <…> Today, it is very important to maintain and develop relations through those Islamic instruments and banks that are active in Russia. <…> Qatari financial companies already invest in Russia and I invite all representatives of the Russian Federation to join cooperation in the field of modern technologies. <…> Over the past five years, more than 5 billion rubles has been invested in technology and agriculture,” he said.
Transforming international cooperation and establishing strong trade and economic ties has been a priority in the current economic situation. Growth areas in building relations between Russia and Qatar were highlighted by Pavel Kalmychek, Director at the Department of Bilateral Cooperation at the Russian Economic Development Ministry. “The first task is to expand trade. At the end of last year, trade in goods between Russia and Qatar increased by 4.3% (+$3.79 million) to $91 million. Unfortunately, the volume of our trade in goods and services is not big. We aim to diversify mutual trade, improve foreign trade conditions, and assist businesses in developing the markets of our countries. An important step in developing trade and economic relations would be to introduce trade preferences. In this regard, we are seeking to prepare a Free Trade Agreement jointly with our Qatari colleagues.” Then Kalmychek pointed to investment, transport and logistics, among other spheres. The two countries already have an agreement signed between the Russian and Qatari governments to encourage and protect investment jointly (in Doha on February 12, 2007). Joint investments have already been made to the production sphere, trade, transport infrastructure, and the financial sector. Money has also been invested in leading Russian pharmaceutical, medical and IT companies. “The fourth growth area is agriculture,” the speaker noted. “The Russian Federation has been and remains a reliable supplier of agricultural products and food to the global market. This fully applies to the Qatar market. Over the past three years, these exports to Qatar have increased in physical terms by more than threefold. And we can see prospects for expanding and diversifying exports, including halal products,” he said.
The official also described climate issues as another important area.
Mohamed Benbouadi, Managing Director for Professional Services at Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), told the audience about Qatar’s vision of potential cooperation with Russia. “Qatar occupies a strategic geographical position and has access to a number of markets. Qatar is somewhat at the crossroads between the East and the West. This enables the implementation of a variety of investment projects. Qatar provides unique opportunities for investment growth and business growth in free economic zones. Qatar’s free economic zones allow Russian companies to open business in full compliance with Shariah law, which ensures diversification of investments and their implementation,” he said.
During the session, speakers discussed new horizons and prospects for Russian-Qatari economic relations, barriers to strengthening investment cooperation between Russia and Qatar, ways to overcome them, as well as existing measures to support the establishing of agro-industrial and industrial clusters and innovative systems.
The 15th International Economic Forum "Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum 2024" is being held on May 14-19 in Kazan. This year's keynote is "Trust and Cooperation." The main goal of the forum is to strengthen trade and economic, scientific and technical, social and cultural ties between Russian regions and the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as well as to promote the development of the Islamic financial system institutions in Russia.
Venue: The Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center, Kazan
Time and date: May 16, 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Moderator: Alexander Larin, general board member, chairman of ENERGOTRANSPROEKT Group and chairman of the Tavolga Foundation for the Development of Science and Culture Science and Cutlture.
Invited speakers:
E.P. Sheikh Suheim bin Ahmed bin Sultan bin Jassim Al Thani, Director General of Al Adid Business
Pavel Kalmychek, Director at the Department of Bilateral Cooperation at the Russian Economic Development Ministry;
Mohamed Benbouadi, Managing Director for Professional Services at Qatar Financial Centre (QFC);
Sergey Machekhin, Deputy Director General for Project Engineering, Sustainable Development and International Cooperation of PJSC RusHydro;
Yousuf Mohammed Al Jaida, Member of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Financial Center Authority;
Igor Povarazdnyuk, Director General of Kama JSC;
Dr. Ahmed Al Enazi, the Planning and Strategic Initiative Director at Qatar Science & Technology Park;
Maxim Safonov, Director of the Center for Management of Environmental Development of Russia, IGSU, Presidential Academy;
E.P. Sheikh Suheim bin Ahmed bin Sultan bin Jassim Al Thani congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election as president of the Russian Federation as he opened his speech. “I express my gratitude to Mr. President Putin and I congratulate him on his election win. And, of course, I express my gratitude to the Republic of Tatarstan led by Rustam [Minnikhanov] for the warm welcome. <…> Today, it is very important to maintain and develop relations through those Islamic instruments and banks that are active in Russia. <…> Qatari financial companies already invest in Russia and I invite all representatives of the Russian Federation to join cooperation in the field of modern technologies. <…> Over the past five years, more than 5 billion rubles has been invested in technology and agriculture,” he said.
Transforming international cooperation and establishing strong trade and economic ties has been a priority in the current economic situation. Growth areas in building relations between Russia and Qatar were highlighted by Pavel Kalmychek, Director at the Department of Bilateral Cooperation at the Russian Economic Development Ministry. “The first task is to expand trade. At the end of last year, trade in goods between Russia and Qatar increased by 4.3% (+$3.79 million) to $91 million. Unfortunately, the volume of our trade in goods and services is not big. We aim to diversify mutual trade, improve foreign trade conditions, and assist businesses in developing the markets of our countries. An important step in developing trade and economic relations would be to introduce trade preferences. In this regard, we are seeking to prepare a Free Trade Agreement jointly with our Qatari colleagues.” Then Kalmychek pointed to investment, transport and logistics, among other spheres. The two countries already have an agreement signed between the Russian and Qatari governments to encourage and protect investment jointly (in Doha on February 12, 2007). Joint investments have already been made to the production sphere, trade, transport infrastructure, and the financial sector. Money has also been invested in leading Russian pharmaceutical, medical and IT companies. “The fourth growth area is agriculture,” the speaker noted. “The Russian Federation has been and remains a reliable supplier of agricultural products and food to the global market. This fully applies to the Qatar market. Over the past three years, these exports to Qatar have increased in physical terms by more than threefold. And we can see prospects for expanding and diversifying exports, including halal products,” he said.
The official also described climate issues as another important area.
Mohamed Benbouadi, Managing Director for Professional Services at Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), told the audience about Qatar’s vision of potential cooperation with Russia. “Qatar occupies a strategic geographical position and has access to a number of markets. Qatar is somewhat at the crossroads between the East and the West. This enables the implementation of a variety of investment projects. Qatar provides unique opportunities for investment growth and business growth in free economic zones. Qatar’s free economic zones allow Russian companies to open business in full compliance with Shariah law, which ensures diversification of investments and their implementation,” he said.
During the session, speakers discussed new horizons and prospects for Russian-Qatari economic relations, barriers to strengthening investment cooperation between Russia and Qatar, ways to overcome them, as well as existing measures to support the establishing of agro-industrial and industrial clusters and innovative systems.
The 15th International Economic Forum "Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum 2024" is being held on May 14-19 in Kazan. This year's keynote is "Trust and Cooperation." The main goal of the forum is to strengthen trade and economic, scientific and technical, social and cultural ties between Russian regions and the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as well as to promote the development of the Islamic financial system institutions in Russia.
