Russia's KazanForum to host about 120 thematic sessions

Kazan will host the XVI International Economic Forum "Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum" from 13 to 18 May 2025. The event will traditionally bring together representatives of more than 80 countries, including experts, investors, and business representatives from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) states. The main theme of the forum is "Digitalisation: new reality and additional opportunities for expanding cooperation".

This year's business programme will cover about 120 thematic sessions to discuss the halal industry, finance and investment, international cooperation, tourism, education, culture, youth entrepreneurship and other issues. The central event will be the plenary session, which will be attended by high-ranking guests.

According to Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the Russian President and Executive Secretary of the Forum Organising Committee, KazanForum serves as a platform for dialogue and launching joint initiatives.

"I am confident that the work of the forum, as always, will be substantive and constructive, will be held in a spirit of openness and trust and will traditionally open the way to the implementation of many new joint projects," he said.

Special attention at the meeting will be paid to the work with the media. On 15 May, a media session with the participation of foreign mass media will feature a presentation of TV BRICS, the forum's media partner in the BRICS countries. Daria Ivankova, Director of the International Cooperation Department of TV BRICS, will make a speech.

In addition, at the session "North-South International Transport Corridor" experts will discuss infrastructure development at the ITC, expansion of transport geography and present new projects. Representatives of the Russian leadership and transport authorities from Iran, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other countries are expected to attend.

International round tables and industrial dialogues will be an important part of KazanForum. There will also be a meeting of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group, a congress of OIC culture ministers and a number of diplomatic events.

The Kazan Expo International Exhibition Centre will also host Russia Halal Expo, Russia's largest exhibition of investment and infrastructure projects. In addition, an international trade fair Kazan Halal Market will be held at the Agro-Industrial Park, where halal products from farmers from Tatarstan and other regions of Russia will be presented.

The forum will be complemented by an extensive cultural programme. Guests will be able to visit the festival of cuisines of Islamic countries and the Yunus Akhmetzyanov tournament of young chefs, the Modest Fashion Day festival of Islamic fashion, performances and exhibitions. From 14 to 17 May, an international football tournament for children "Cup of the East" will be held, in which teams from the OIC countries will take part.

KazanForum is held to strengthen trade and economic, scientific, technical, social, and cultural ties between Russia and the OIC states. In 2024, the forum united more than 20.5 thousand participants from 87 countries.

Photo: Kristina Kormilitsyna / RIA Novosti Photo Host Agency