(Asghar Ali Mubarak)
Islamabad (TNS) Russian Federation has invited Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif to participate at
16th International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: Kazan Forum”, scheduled be held from 13 to 18 May in the Kazan capital of Tataristan, offered immense opportunities for the commercial and socio-cultural interactions between Pakistan and Russia.
According to the sources, Russian authorities has dispatched the invitation to the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and looking forward to receive him at the Forum.
The aim of the forum is to strengthen trade and economic, scientific and technical, educational, social and cultural ties between the Russian Federation and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries. Being an important member of the OIC, Pakistan have markedly increased their interaction with Russia. The rapprochement of the sides will continue at the Kazan Forum, an important issue for the participants will be the interaction between Russia and Pakistan.
The KazanForum 2025 programme includes more than 100 sessions and events on the following topics: international cooperation, business, Islamic finance and Halal industry, transport and logistics, science and technology, IT, industry, construction, medicine, education, tourism, culture, media industry and others.
One of the main events of KazanForum 2025 will be the first ever congress of OIC Ministers of Culture in the history of Russia. The event will take place in the city of Kazan, which has been appointed the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2026, a decision made in Jeddah in February 2025 by the Culture Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries.
No less important event of the KazanForum 2025 business programme will be the annual international conference AAOIFI** on the theme: “Islamic Finance and Investment: Promoting Sustainable Development and Global Partnership”, which will also be held in Russia for the first time.
Also in the KazanForum 2025 programme: a meeting of the Ministers of Transport of the participating countries and the Agreement on the North-South International Transport Corridor, the Conference on the Development of Transport Logistics Potential of the Participating Countries, the second international real estate exhibition International Property Market 2025, the International Forum of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Russia Halal Expo, the Islamic Fashion Festival “Modest Fashion Day”, the International Tournament of Young Chefs of Islamic Countries, as well as separate special events and sessions for the media.
Pakistan and Russia have many points of contact and grounds for developing co-operation. An important area is trade. Over the past 5 years, trade turnover between the countries has increased 1.5 times. This was helped by the opening of the St Petersburg-Karachi sea line. Russia actively exports food and agricultural products. Exports of mineral fertilizers are expected to grow and grain supplies are expected to resume. All this will enhance Pakistan’s food security.
The countries also interact within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). There are mutual interests here: strengthening industrial cooperation, creating independent financial institutions and payment and settlement mechanisms, expanding transport and logistics capabilities and regional interconnectivity.
To develop international logistics (including the North-South ITC), the modernization of the railway section of the Quetta-Taftan route and the expansion
of maritime freight traffic are under consideration.
Educational and cultural ties are developing. Last year there were 11 per cent more budget quotas for Pakistani students in Russian higher education institutions. The most popular areas of training are medical treatment, construction, mechanical engineering and economics.
The previous KazanForum 2024 gathered more than 20 thousand participants, including 11978 business programme participants from 87 countries, including 57 OIC states. More than 40 diplomatic missions from Europe, Asia and Africa were represented. About 180 events were held within the framework of the forum, which resulted in the conclusion of 120 agreements. Traditionally, the participants of KazanForum are leading experts from the countries of the Islamic world: representatives of international organizations, national diplomatic missions, Islamic clergy, public authorities, financial institutions, large international business, members of parliaments, investors, entrepreneurs, heads of media corporations and mass media.
“The business programme of the forum invariably focuses on business, investment and trade and economic relations between the regions of the Russian Federation and the countries of the Islamic world. The forum has established itself as an effective platform for signing agreements, establishing real contacts that contribute to the implementation of joint projects, opening new production facilities and scientific and technical exchange in various fields. Such cooperation is mutually beneficial and fully corresponds to the motto of the Forum “Trust and Cooperation”, — said Talia Minullina, Secretary of the Republican Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding of the annual International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”, Head of the Investment Development Agency of the Republic of Tatarstan.
