The II International Business Forum and Exhibition “Russia–Africa EXPO–2025” successfully concluded in Moscow. For seven days, from October 15 to 21, the capital became the epicenter of dialogue and the largest business platform for deepening Russian-African partnership. Organized by the African Business Club under the leadership of Louis Gouend, the forum attracted a record number of participants and clearly demonstrated a qualitatively new level of interaction between the continents.
The scale of the events clearly demonstrated the rapidly growing interest in developing Russian-African cooperation. Over 25,000 people attended the forum, bringing together representatives from more than 30 African countries and 15 Russian regions. The significance of the event was underscored by the participation of more than 20 heads of African diplomatic missions. The forum was supported by key Russian institutions, including the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Committee on Financial, Industrial, and Investment Policy, the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Moscow Regional Office of the Russian Peace Foundation, the Lomonosov Russian-African Club, the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), the Gatingo International Association, and ANO MIR. Important informational support was provided by the African Initiative agency and the African television channel DRAFT TV.
On the business agenda, the extensive program included more than 21 panel discussions, bringing together over 75 entrepreneurs from Africa. The forum’s practical focus was embodied in more than 200 bilateral B2B meetings, which resulted in the signing of over 20 cooperation agreements in various economic sectors, from energy and agriculture to digital technologies.
The central event was the plenary session, which featured speeches by prominent representatives of the Russian and African elite: Yevgeny Primakov, Head of Rossotrudnichestvo; Andrey Panyukhov, Deputy Director of the Department of Partnership with Africa at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute for African Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences; and Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Aristide Rapugdondba Ludovic Tapsoba (Burkina Faso) and Ibrahim Ceesay (Republic of the Gambia). Welcoming remarks were delivered by Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs; Alexander Babakov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma; and Vladimir Platonov, President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasizing the high level of state interest in developing partnership.
Particular attention was given to industry sessions organized in collaboration with leading partners. They covered a wide range of strategically important areas, including: “Banking, Payments, Logistics, and Transaction and Cargo Insurance” (Co-organizer: African Initiative); “Food Sovereignty” (Co-organizer: Rossotrudnichestvo); “Investing in Health: Russian Solutions for African Healthcare” (Co-organizer: Russian Ministry of Health); “African Mining Potential: New Opportunities for Cooperation with Russia and China” (Co-organizer: FBA EAC); and the “Made in Africa. Made for Africa” session, where innovative projects by African companies were presented.
In addition to the business program, the forum served as a platform for strengthening humanitarian and cultural ties. Participants were able to attend a closed presentation of the film “MY AFRICA,” take part in the roundtable “Dialogues in Art and Culture: Russia-Africa,” view the art project “The World of Africa: Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday,” and visit the Victory Museum. The Festival, Fair, and Exhibition at Danilovsky Market served as a vibrant showcase of African culture and products. The sporting component included a mini-football tournament between teams of African and Russian entrepreneurs.
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