6/4/24 Russia’s Trade With Islamic Countries Up 30%

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has stated that Russia’s trade turnover with the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2023 increased by 30% in 2023. He was speaking at the 2024 KazanForum “Russia & the Islamic World.”

“Thanks to this event, we have become even closer with our colleagues – Muslim countries. Our trade turnover is increasing. I can say that over the past year our trade turnover with the countries of OIC increased by 30%.” Khusnullin told reporters.

The OIC includes 57 member states, 48 of which are Muslim-majority. The organisation claims to be “the collective voice of the Muslim world” and works to “safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony”. Russia has observer status.

Knusnullin said there have been more tourist exchanges between Russia and OIC states, and that the volume of exports and imports of products between Russia and OIC members have increased.

The OIC has a combined population of about 2 billion and a collective GDP (PPP) of US$27.949 trillion. It is headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

KazanForum is a platform for strengthening trade, economic, scientific, technical, social and cultural ties between Russia and OIC countries. The forum received federal status by a presidential decree in 2023.  The event took place in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Tatarstan region, often referred to as a third capital of the country. Kazan will also be the venue for the 2024 BRICS summit. 

Rustam Minnikhanov, the head of Russia’s Tatarstan Republic and Chairman of the forum said that Islamic countries will make an important contribution to the safe development in the multi-polar world order. “When it comes to key spiritual and moral values, Orthodox Christianity and Islam are similar and close,” Minnikhanov told the conference. “This applies, in particular, to human rights and family fundamentals. I am sure that positive interaction and partnership between Russia and the Islamic world will make an important contribution to secure development in a fair multipolar world order.”

The Russia-Islamic World group includes former high-level leaders, representatives of science and the public, business circles and religious figures representing both Islam and Orthodox Christianity.

Source: portal "Russia's Pivot To Asia"