RUSSIA — ISLAMIC WORLD: TRUST AND COOPERATION
The XV International Economic Forum "Russia — Islamic World: KazanForum"
RegistrationKazan Expo
May 14-19, 2024
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
President of the Russian Federation
Friends,
I am delighted to greet you at the opening of the 14th International Economic Forum in Kazan.
Once again the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan extends a warm welcome to guests from many countries and confirms its status as a reputable and popular platform for holding major representative business events.
Russia enjoys traditionally close, trust-based relations with Muslim states, both bilateral and as part of our interaction with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. These relations are built on partnership, respect for each other’s sovereignty and civilisational identity. We are united by a common desire to create a more just multipolar world order that is based on international law. The Islamic world is actively developing and has important accomplishments in trade, finance, innovations and applied scientific research. Russia is open to extensive business and cultural cooperation with Muslim countries. We are interested in strengthening the existing ties and finding new partners, as well as in promoting agricultural and industrial cooperation and creating new transport and logistics chains. I want to note that Russian Muslims play an important role in expanding international contacts. The holding of today’s Forum is proof of that. I am sure that the activity of the Russia-Islamic World strategic vision group and the KazanForum International Economic Forum will continue to help strengthen interaction between the business communities of Russia and Muslim countries and will open new opportunities for joint projects at the interregional and interstate levels.
I wish you productive work and all the best.
About "Russia - Islamic world: KazanForum"
"Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum" is the main platform for economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and the countries of the Islamic world.
Forum in figures for 2023Opinions about KazanForum
Muslim countries have shown their strong ties and willingness to cooperate with Russia. The KazanForum International Economic Forum has already established itself as a platform for conducting a bilateral, constructive dialogue aimed at developing economic, trade, socio-cultural ties with Islamic states. I am sure that this year the Forum will be held at a high level and will contribute to the emergence of new joint projects.
International economic forum of Russia and OIC countries aims to demonstrate that Russia is open and ready to have dialogue within the development of cooperation in the spheres of trade, foreign direct investment and discussion of Islamic financial system functioning issues.
The Forum has become an authoritative platform for professional and open discussion of economic issues. Over the years, the role of the Forum in the development of Islamic business and finance in the Russian market, strengthening trade, economic and investment partnerships, and the implementation of innovative projects, including original projects of young entrepreneurs, has become increasingly noticeable.
Welcome letter
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.
Welcome letter
The international economic event KazanForum has become a traditional meeting venue for the business elites of Russia and Islamic states interested in maximizing the opportunities of business partnership. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia considers these efforts an extremely important element in the implementation of foreign policy and will continue to provide it with all necessary and effective support.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tatarstan shows high investment opportunities due to political stability and respect for the equal rights of all ethnic groups.
Thanks to the KazanForum, new relations develop between businessmen of Tatarstan and our countries.
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