Inna Svyatenko, Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council, Participated in KazanForum’s Women Co-Operation Press Conference
Inna Svyatenko, Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council, Participated in KazanForum’s Women Co-Operation Press Conference
15 May
The press conference “Female Perspective: International Co-Operation of Women for Economic Development” was held today as part of the XVI International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”. Inna Svyatenko, Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council; Alsu Nabieva, Head of the Markhamet-Mercy Association of Women Deputies at the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan and Rector of the Russian University of Co Operation; Farida Abdullah Kamber Al Awadhi, President of the Emirates Business Women Council of UAE; and Atuma Marie Bernadette, Head of AMB Services, discussed the problems that women face today along with the ways of solving them. Anna Knishenko, RT Arabic Correspondent and Presenter, acted as Moderator.
“If a woman wants to achieve something –– she will put all her efforts into it, nothing will be able to stop her. I see a lot of women who not only run businesses, but try to help other women as well. They are the agents of peace that promote safe and friendly spaces,” says Farida Abdullah Kamber Al Awadhi.
Inna Svyatenko, Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council responsible for coordinating social policy work, shared the Russian experience of women’s inclusion into solving political issues with her foreign colleagues.
“Women still have to fight for their rights across some Latin American countries. Russia is unique in that women here are judged not on gender but on professional grounds, and no one is surprised if a woman heads a large industrial enterprise, works in the nuclear power industry, or serves in the army. The employer’s attitude towards women is something we need to improve, because it is very important. The Council on Demographic Policy is discussing the issue of a corporate demographic standard that will monitor the employer’s reception of women, so that female employees are not discouraged from taking maternity leave, but rather encouraged and incentivised. When we change this stance of employers, we will slow down the ageing of the population and increase the birth rate,” says Svyatenko.
Atuma Marie Bernadette, Head of AMB Services from Cameroon, commented on the current situation in her home country and compared it with what she experienced in Russia.
“The rights of women and men are not equal in Cameroon, but despite that our women can already become members of parliament and state activists; the country is advancing in that respect. I came to Russia to see how an effective partnership between men and women in business is proceeding here,” shares Atuma Marie Bernadette.
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The International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”, which was granted federal status in 2022 by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, is being held for the 16th time on 13 18 May 2025. The Programme includes 200 events such as a Congress of Ministers of Transport within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Ministers of Culture within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Prosecutors General within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Auditors within the Islamic countries; the world’s largest conference on Islamic finance; conferences on the halal industry; a forum of Chambers of Commerce and Industry within the Islamic countries; as well as international exhibitions on economy, trade, and real estate held over 40 thousand sq. m. Representatives from 103 countries registered to participate in 2025. In 2024, the Event gathered more than 20 thousand participants from 87 countries, 87 constituent subjects of the Russian Federation, along with more than 40 diplomatic missions.
“If a woman wants to achieve something –– she will put all her efforts into it, nothing will be able to stop her. I see a lot of women who not only run businesses, but try to help other women as well. They are the agents of peace that promote safe and friendly spaces,” says Farida Abdullah Kamber Al Awadhi.
Inna Svyatenko, Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council responsible for coordinating social policy work, shared the Russian experience of women’s inclusion into solving political issues with her foreign colleagues.
“Women still have to fight for their rights across some Latin American countries. Russia is unique in that women here are judged not on gender but on professional grounds, and no one is surprised if a woman heads a large industrial enterprise, works in the nuclear power industry, or serves in the army. The employer’s attitude towards women is something we need to improve, because it is very important. The Council on Demographic Policy is discussing the issue of a corporate demographic standard that will monitor the employer’s reception of women, so that female employees are not discouraged from taking maternity leave, but rather encouraged and incentivised. When we change this stance of employers, we will slow down the ageing of the population and increase the birth rate,” says Svyatenko.
Atuma Marie Bernadette, Head of AMB Services from Cameroon, commented on the current situation in her home country and compared it with what she experienced in Russia.
“The rights of women and men are not equal in Cameroon, but despite that our women can already become members of parliament and state activists; the country is advancing in that respect. I came to Russia to see how an effective partnership between men and women in business is proceeding here,” shares Atuma Marie Bernadette.
***
The International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”, which was granted federal status in 2022 by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, is being held for the 16th time on 13 18 May 2025. The Programme includes 200 events such as a Congress of Ministers of Transport within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Ministers of Culture within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Prosecutors General within the Islamic countries; a Congress of Auditors within the Islamic countries; the world’s largest conference on Islamic finance; conferences on the halal industry; a forum of Chambers of Commerce and Industry within the Islamic countries; as well as international exhibitions on economy, trade, and real estate held over 40 thousand sq. m. Representatives from 103 countries registered to participate in 2025. In 2024, the Event gathered more than 20 thousand participants from 87 countries, 87 constituent subjects of the Russian Federation, along with more than 40 diplomatic missions.
