Rustam Minnikhanov at the KazanForum 2023 plenary session: It is important to use KazanForum to discuss new models of international business cooperation

Rustam Minnikhanov at the KazanForum 2023 plenary session: It is important to use KazanForum to discuss new models of international business cooperation

Today, the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, R.N. Minnikhanov, spoke at the plenary session of the XIV International Economic Forum "Russia - the Islamic World: KazanForum 2023": "Economy of trust: partnership of the Russian Federation and the OIC countries".

The event was held at the site of the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center (Tatarstan, Kazan).

The online broadcast of the plenary session was available on the forum's website. A broadcast was also organized on the TV channel "Russia 24".

Abstracts of the speech of the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan R.N.Minnikhanov:

Bismillahs-rachmanir-rahim! As-salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!

Caderle duslar! Dear friends!

I am glad to welcome you at the International Economic Forum "Russia – the Islamic World: "Kazan-Forum". It is a great honor and a great responsibility for us to host participants and guests of this great international event in Kazan.

We are grateful to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for the trust and continued support of cooperation between Russia and partners from Muslim states at the regional level; Marat Shakirzanovich Khusnullin and all federal ministries and departments for their great work in organizing the event; our distinguished foreign and Russian guests and partners for their participation and contribution to the substantive part of the Forum program. We are grateful to the heads of Russian regions; business representatives; diplomats; religious figures; public organizations; mass media; everyone who participated in the preparation of "KazanForum".

Against the background of cardinal shifts in the international arena and great challenges for our country, ties with the Islamic world are of particular importance.

A huge role in the development of multifaceted cooperation with Muslim states was played by the personal initiative of Vladimir Putin, who 20 years ago, the first of the heads of the Russian state attending a meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), made a number of historic statements. He spoke about the strategic prospects of cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world; as well as about Russia's intention to become a member of the OIC.

Today, Russia is an observer at the OIC, and the organization itself is the most important interstate institution of the Islamic world.

The polyethnic and poly-confessional character of Russia determines the importance of the Islamic factor in the internal life of the country.

The Muslim Ummah of Russia, which has more than 20 million people, mostly consists of representatives of indigenous peoples who converted to Islam many centuries ago.

Last year, large-scale celebrations were held in honor of the adoption of Islam as the state religion by Volga Bulgaria 1100 years ago.

The positions of the Russian Federation and Muslim countries today coincide on many issues of world development.

Our cooperation in the conditions of global instability plays an important role in the formation of a just world order with a diversity of cultures and values.

The most important component of cooperation is the trade, economic and investment direction. The Islamic economy is the most important part of the world economy. Its weight in international trade is growing every year.

It is important that in the new Concept of Russia's foreign Policy it is noted that the states of friendly Islamic civilization are becoming more and more in demand and reliable partners of our country in ensuring security, stability, and solving economic problems at the global and regional levels.

Russia strives to strengthen comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation with the OIC member States, respecting their socio-political structures and traditional spiritual and moral values. In the current conditions, it is important to increase mutual trade turnover; reasonably rebuild the logistics supply chains of goods, including rebuilding export flows; work on issues of import substitution and strengthening technological sovereignty in countries; improve the work of international transport corridors; implement joint investment projects.

In this respect, KazanForum is unique. This is a platform where participants and guests can discuss these issues and many other proposals. For 14 years now, there has been integration of representatives of international organizations; public authorities; financial institutions; diplomatic missions; parliamentarians; leading investors; top managers of Russian and foreign companies.

During all these years, the event has been solving such tasks as developing recommendations for determining strategic prospects for the development of international economic, scientific, technical, social and cultural relations between the forum participants; promoting the strengthening of relations between the business circles of Russia, the CIS and the OIC countries; attracting leading world experts to a joint discussion of current economic and political problems; development of recommendations and legislative initiatives aimed at solving problems in the functioning of the institutions of the Islamic financial system and the economy of the Russian Federation; organization of the exchange of experience of successful practices in the implementation of financial projects; attraction of foreign direct investment in the economy of Russian regions.

The business program of the current forum is very rich. Its main topic was "Partnership of the Russian Federation and the OIC countries in conditions of trust and mutual respect."

In addition, there are more than 150 events on such topical topics as international cooperation; Islamic finance; halal industry; technology; innovation; investment; industry; sustainable development; women's perspective; logistics.

KazanForum is an effective economic tool of the Russia–Islamic World Strategic Vision Group, which I head on behalf of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. Its activities are carried out under the motto of developing cooperation between the Russian Federation and the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. We held the next meeting of the Group today in Kazan.

The market of Islamic financial technologies in the OIC countries in 2021 amounted to 79 billion US dollars. This is only 0.8% of the global volume of financial technology transactions. Nevertheless, according to forecasts, the volume of Islamic financial technologies will grow to $179 billion by 2026.

Russia has great prospects in the development of the Islamic economy. Thus, the Halal industry is actively developing – food, tourism, medicine and other areas; there are positive examples of IT technologies that are aimed not only at Muslims, but also at a wider audience; Islamic finance is developing. Serious work is underway in this direction.

In December last year, the State Duma of Russia adopted in the first reading a bill on conducting an experiment on the organization of partner financing in 4 regions of Russia from February 1, 2023: Tatarstan; Dagestan; Chechnya and Bashkortostan. The experiment is designed for 2 years with the possibility of extension and expansion to other regions.

Participants will perform financial transactions according to Sharia law. Also in December last year, a BEAC office was opened in Kazan, which specializes in providing services on the principles of Islamic finance.

The department serves both retail and corporate clients. Today, partner financing products (mudaraba (an analogue of asset trust management), halal investment instruments, trade financing, bank guarantee, payment and current accounts, cash settlement services, etc.) are presented on the bank shelf.

Together with Islamic finance, the technological agenda is becoming important today. High technologies not only shape the standard of living, the development of industry and the digital economy; but also ensure state sovereignty.

At the same time, the development of industries such as microelectronics, telecommunications, and space require investments exceeding the capabilities of a single country.

Therefore, it is now important to use KazanForum to discuss new models of international business cooperation that contribute to reducing the technological vulnerability of each country.

We are actively working to expand cooperation with the Islamic world in the fields of science, education, culture, sports, and tourism.

Last year, nationwide, we celebrated the 1100th anniversary of the adoption of Islam by Volga Bulgaria.

Our capital, Kazan, spent 2022 as the Youth Capital of the OIC. The key event of the Year was the Global Youth Summit. The events brought together young entrepreneurs, scientists, diplomats, cultural figures from 70 countries of the world. I am sure that further joint work of the OIC Youth Forum and the new all-Russian movement of children and youth "Movement of the First" will make an important humanitarian contribution to building a multipolar and sustainable world based on the values of mutual respect and cultural diversity.

Dear ladies and gentlemen, Caderle duslar! At the end of my speech, I would like to thank all the participants and guests of KazanForum for their active involvement in the work of the event; wish them health, well-being and the implementation of new joint projects. Only together and in conditions of trust and mutual respect will we be able to cope with the challenges of the new time and solve all the tasks that modernity puts before us.

Press service of Rais RT