With the participation of Syria, the 14th International Economic Forum “Russia and the Islamic World- KAZANFORUM 2023” kicked off on Thursday in the Russian city of Kazan.
The first sessions of the Forum started this morning, and around 200 events are scheduled to held within the framework of the Forum.
In a message addressing the participants, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the participants to the forum, and said: “I welcome you on the occasion of the opening of the 14th International Economic Forum in Kazan. Once again, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan warmly welcomes guests from many countries, and confirms its status as a reliable and preferred place for large-scale business activities.”
Putin pointed out that Russia has traditionally enjoyed close relations with Islamic countries on a bilateral basis, and within the framework of interaction with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, stressing that these relations are based on partnership and respect for each other’s sovereignty and civilizational identity.
Putin said: “Islamic countries are actively developing today and achieving tangible achievements in trade, the financial sector, innovation, and scientific and applied research, and Russia is open to as much commercial and humanitarian cooperation as possible with them.”
The Russian president indicated that his country is interested in strengthening existing relations, finding new partners, boosting agricultural and industrial cooperation, and establishing new transport and logistics channels.
Putin expressed his confidence that the Strategic Vision Group for Russia and the Islamic World and the Kazan Forum will continue to enhance interaction between business communities in Russia and Islamic countries, and will also work to open new opportunities for joint projects at the regional level and between countries.
This forum will be held from the 18th to the 20th of May at the Kazan Expo, and more than 7,000 people from 85 countries and 84 regions of the Russian Federation are expected to participate in its activities.
Inas Abdulkareem