The development and consolidation of mutually
beneficial ties with African nations and their integration associations is now
one of Russia’s foreign policy priorities.
Vladimir Putin
The Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum
took place on 23–24 October in Sochi. The event’s motto was “For Peace,
Security and Development”. This is the first time in the history of modern
Russia that an event of this kind has been held at such a high level, and it is
unprecedented in the history of Russian-African relations. Official delegations
from African countries and business representatives expressed great interest in
the further development of relations, and in deepening and intensifying Russian-African
cooperation. Wide-ranging preparatory work was carried out in the run-up to the
Russia–Africa Economic Forum, serving the purpose of strengthening and
expanding interaction between Russia and Africa. Priority areas of economic
cooperation in which concrete results can be achieved in the coming years were
outlined. The main areas identified were energy, including renewables,
infrastructure development and especially railway and housing construction,
modern and high-tech extraction and processing of mineral resources,
agriculture, digital technologies, oil and gas exploration, medicine, science
and education. At the Summit a final declaration was adopted by the
participants. The document outlines a set of goals and objectives for the
further development of Russian-African cooperation in politics, security, the
economy, science, technology, culture and humanitarian fields. It is worth
noting that the declaration includes a new mechanism for dialogue, the
Russian-African partnership mechanism, which calls for the Russia–Africa Summit
to be held once every three years. “In order to coordinate the development of
the Russian-African relationship, the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum is to be
established and the Russia–Africa Summit is to be its supreme authority, which
will be held once every three years,” the document states. “During the time
between the summits, the Russian Federation is to hold annual political
consultations with ministers of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation and
the African countries taking current, past and future chairmanship of the
African Union.” The declaration also states the shared determination of Russia
and Africa to take this cooperation to the next level, responding to the
challenges of the 21st century at a time when exchanging technological
products, generating and trading globally in knowledge and competencies is
growing in significance.
The Russia–Africa panel discussion will become
a permanent fixture at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, while
Roscongress will continue working on the African track until the next
Forum.
1. Working with
participants
The Russia–Africa Economic Forum was attended
by more than 6,000 participants and media representatives from Russia and 104
foreign countries and territories. Among the participants were over 1,100
representatives of international business, around 1,400 representatives of
Russian business, over 1,900 members of official foreign delegations and over
300 Russian delegation members.
All 54 African states were represented
officially at the Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum, 45 of which were
represented by their heads of state
(Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti,
Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya,
Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, the Gambia,
Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe). The Forum’s events were attended by the heads of executive bodies of
eightAfrican regional organizations: the African Union Commission, the
African Export–Import Bank, the East African Community, the G5 Sahel, the Arab
Maghreb Union, the Southern African Development Community, the Economic
Community of Central African States, the Economic Community of West African
States. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development representatives attended as well.
109 foreign ministers and the Vice
President of Liberia Jewel Howard Taylor and Vice-President of Burundi Joseph Butore
also attended the events.
Among the most eminent representatives of
international and Russian business who regularly participate in Roscongress
Foundation events are Chair of Unitel Isabel Dos Santos, from Angola; Chief
Executive Officer at Gemcorp Capital LLP investment company Atanas Bostandjiev,
from the UK; President of Transmashholding Andrey Bokarev; General Director and
Chairman of the Board of KAMAZ Sergey Kogogin; Chairman of the Board of
Directors of URALCHEM Dmitry Mazepin; and President of LUKOIL Vagit Alekperov.
The following eminent representatives of
international business were participating in a Roscongress Foundation event for
the first time: Naspers Group CEO Bob van Dijk and CEO of Naspers Ltd Phuthi
Mahanyele-Dabengwa, from South Africa; Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Egyptian National Railways Ashraf Raslan; CEO of energy company MYA Energy
Youssef El Alaoui, from Morocco; CEO of CalBank Limited Frank Adu Jr., from
Ghana; CEO of Centurion NJ Ayuk JD, from South Africa; and CEO of C-Nergy Ghana
Limited Michael Cobblah.
Representatives of Russian federal authorities
participating in the Forum included Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian
Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal
District of the Russian Federation Yury Trutnev, Presidential Plenipotentiary
Envoy to the Southern Federal District of the Russian Federation Vladimir
Ustinov, and 11 ministers of the Russian
Federation (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of
Science and Higher Education, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment,
Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of
Construction, Housing and Utilities, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Digital
Development, Communications and Mass Media, Ministry of Economic Development,
and Ministry of Energy), seven heads of
Russian federal agencies and services (Federal Service for
Military-Technical Cooperation, Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer
Protection and Welfare, Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport,
Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs, Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of
Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International
Humanitarian Cooperation, Federal Agency for Mineral Resources, and Federal
Agency for Fisheries).
“The historical significance of the
Russia–Africa events is clear to many generations of people who lived through
the USSR. Modern Russia, which already has experience of successful cooperation
with African countries under its belt, is ready to make an offer to the African
continent that will secure mutually beneficial partnership and the joint
realization of the potential accumulated through decades of painstaking work
carried out by several generations of Soviet and Russian people,” said Adviser
to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the Organizing
Committee Anton Kobyakov.
2. Business programme
of the Russia–Africa Economic Forum
Discussions devoted to the potential for
developing cooperation and interaction on the African continent formed the
basis of the Russia–Africa Forum business programme. The Economic Forum opened
with a plenary on ‘Russia and Africa: Uncovering the Potential for
Cooperation’. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President
of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdelfattah Al-Sisi spoke as the co-chairs of the
Russia–Africa Summit.
“Over the last five years, trade flows between
Russia and Africa have more than doubled and, as our colleague has just pointed
out, surpassed the USD 20 billion mark. Is this a lot, or not so much?
<…> It seems to me that this figure is too small. Please bear in mind,
ladies and gentlemen, that our trade with Egypt accounts for 7.7 billion, or
40%, of this 20 billion figure. We have many potential partners in Africa, it is
true, and we are talking about potential partners with strong opportunities for
development and huge growth potential,” said Vladimir Putin, opening the
Russia–Africa Economic Forum.
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Abdelfattah Al-Sisi underlined the special role of the Russian Federation in
strengthening peace, stability and economic progress between Russia and Africa
at the plenary. In particular he noted: "We hugely appreciate the fact
that the Russian Federation is devoting its efforts to strengthening
cooperation with Africa, and we view the Economic Forum as an important venue
for demonstrating opportunities to develop investment and trade between our
nations, which will help to strengthen our ties in line with the 2063 concept
[agenda] developed by the African Union.”
Participants in the plenary programme also
included:
from the Russian side – Minister of Economic
Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Oreshkin; Minister of Natural
Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation Dmitry Kobylkin; Chief
Executive Officer of the Russian Export Centre Andrey Slepnev; and President
and Chairman of the Management Board of VTB Bank Andrey Kostin;
from the African side – Commissioner for
Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission Amani Abou-Zeid;
Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Stergomena Lawrence Tax; President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of
the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) Benedict Okey Oramah; and CEO of
Naspers Ltd Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa.
Director of the Institute for African Studies
of the Russian Academy of Sciences Irina Abramova moderated the plenary.
During the plenary, the Minister of Economic
Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Oreshkin presented the Map of
Russian Competencies for Africa, an information and analytical software
solution that introduced guests from African countries to Russian competencies
in various spheres and the competitiveness of Russian products on international
markets. The Map of Russian Competencies for Africa includes 39 products
representing seven competencies: medicine, mineral resources, digital state,
education, transport infrastructure, energy and agriculture. Over 170 Russian
companies and organizations submitted a total of 280 proposals.
“The African nations are now undergoing a
series of transformations spanning infrastructure, the digital sphere, and the
human sphere. The task of these transformations is to increase the quality of
life of the people who make up this wonderful continent. Russia has amassed a
vast array of competencies in recent years, and we are now ready to implement
joint projects aimed at improving people’s quality of life,” said Oreshkin.
The map was available during the Forum, where
it was displayed on touchscreen panels in the exhibition area. At the end of
the Forum it will be scaled to include other foreign countries and made
available online at export.economy.gov.ru.
The discussions were organized into three
thematic pillars: ‘Forging Economic Ties’, ‘Creating Joint Projects’, and
‘Collaborating in the Humanitarian and Social Sector’. In total, 31 sessions
were held, covering the development of trade and economic relations, existing
and potential joint projects in the oil and gas sector and agribusiness, the
creation of transport infrastructure, construction, and nuclear energy. 268 speakers participated in the
discussions, including Minister of Health of the Russian Federation Veronika
Skvortsova; Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation
Mikhail Kotyukov; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa and
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Mikhail Bogdanov;
Director General of State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM Alexey Likhachev;
Сhief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee of ALROSA
Sergey Ivanov; President and Chairman of the Management Board of VTB Bank
Andrey Kostin; CEO of Rostec State Corporation Sergey Chemezov; and Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board of Russian Railways Oleg
Belozerov.
Furthermore, the Russia–Africa News Agencies
Forum was held on the sidelines of the Forum, providing a platform for
discussion of the media’s role in Russian–African relations.
All events on the business programme were
conducted in the four official languages of the bodies and institutions of the
African Union: English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese.
3. Agreements and
business negotiations
“92 agreements,
contracts and memoranda of understanding were signed at the Russia–Africa Summit and
Economic Forum. Documents worth a total of RUB
1.004 trillion were signed, excluding agreements whose value is a trade
secret. Looking at the figures by sector, most of the documents signed were in
export and foreign trade, international cooperation, high technologies,
transport and logistics, extraction of mineral resources and oil and gas
exploration, and investments and banking activities,” said Adviser to the
President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the Organizing
Committee Anton Kobyakov. “Trade between Russia and Africa has doubled over the
last five years, and all the prerequisites are in place for this figure to grow
further. Six of the ten fastest-growing economies in the world today are in
Africa. This is a continent that is home to the youngest and fastest-growing
population on the planet. Mutually beneficial partnership, therefore, is
crucial to the development of our countries’ economies, and the Russia–Africa
Forum will play a leading role in this process. The next edition of the Forum
will take place three years from now. It is important that we undertake to
continue our intensive work during this time in order to strengthen dialogue
through meetings of various kinds alongside our African colleagues, while
working on the agenda for the business programme at the next Forum.”
Key agreements include:
A Memorandum of Understanding between the
Government of the Russian Federation and the African Union on basic principles
of relations and cooperation was adopted at the Summit in the presence of
Vladimir Putin and Abdelfattah Al-Sisi.
Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding
between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the African Union on economic
cooperation was signed by Tigran Sargsyan, the Chairman of the EEC Board, and
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
Export / Foreign
trade:
• Sberbank,
the Russian Export Center, VEB.RF and Gemcorp Capital LLP investment company
signed a framework agreement on the creation of a mechanism to finance trade
between Russia and African countries. The agreement is designed to develop
cooperation with African countries through the organization of credit
mechanisms for joint foreign trade projects and opens up opportunities for
increasing Russian export volumes by way of financial support for the supply of
Russian products to the African continent, including but not limited to Angola,
Ethiopia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Value of agreement – RUB 320.3 billion.
• EFKO
Group and Egyptian company United Oil signed an agreement of intent. The two sides
plan to create a joint enterprise for the production of fat and oil products.
Vegetable oils and food ingredients will be produced for regional markets in
Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The parties also plan to
construct a grain terminal in the Mediterranean Sea for the transshipment of 2
million tonnes of freight per year.
Total project investment – RUB 19.2 billion.
Investments / Banking
activities:
• The
International Agency for Sovereign Development (IASD) has signed agreements
with and become a consultant to the governments of the Republic of the Niger,
the Republic of Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The
agency will bring in investments to fund the development programmes of these
countries.
Total project investment – RUB 159.9 billion.
Industry /
Construction:
• URALCHEM
and Grupo Opaia SA have signed a memorandum of understanding on the
construction of a urea production enterprise in Angola. The project also calls
for the construction of port infrastructure. The Russian company will be
responsible for all issues related to design and the manufacturing process,
while Grupo Opaia SA will oversee the sale of fertilizers and their
distribution to the country’s state farms.
Project cost – RUB 83.3 billion.
• Russian
State Development Corporation VEB.RF, the Russian Export Center and Moroccan
company MYA Energy (part of Marita Group Holding) signed a memorandum of
cooperation in order to finance the construction of an oil refinery in Morocco
with a capacity of up to 5 million tonnes per year.
Total project investment – RUB 35.6 billion.
Transport / Logistics:
• Major
Russian transport engineering company Transmashholding signed an agreement with
Egyptian National Railways on the supply of 1,300 passenger cars to Egypt. The
agreement on the supply of cars to Egypt also outlines a proposal for the
assembly of cars made from Russian-produced components in Hungary. The cars
will then be exported to Egypt.
Total project investment – RUB 71.1 billion.
High technologies:
• Russian
service robot manufacturer Promobot and Nigerian company Pailz Global Ventures
signed an agreement on the supply of one Promobot V.4 robot in the value of USD
22,000. Additionally, a distribution agreement was signed that will see ten
Russian robots delivered to Nigeria in 2019–2020. The promobots will be used at
health clinics and airports in Nigeria, as well as in the entertainment sector.
Total project investment – RUB 15.2 billion.
The following
memoranda were also signed:
• an
agreement between LUKOIL and the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons of
Equatorial Guinea;
• a
memorandum of cooperation between Russian Railways and the Ministry of
Transport and Channels of Communication of the Democratic Republic of the
Congo;
• a
memorandum of cooperation between Russian Railways and the Federal Ministry of
Transportation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
To promote the further development of
Russian–African economic and financial relations, as well as cooperation in
humanitarian and social spheres, to further facilitate business networking, and
promote the image of Russia, the Roscongress Foundation signed 13 agreements on cooperation with the
following organizations: the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority; the
National Agency for Investment Promotion of the Democratic Republic of the
Congo; the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chad; the ExpoLink Egyptian
Exporters Association; the Nigerian Agency for Investment Promotion and
Strategic Projects; the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burkina Faso; the
Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences; the Tanzania
Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture; the Abuja Chamber of Commerce
and Industry; the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the Chamber
of Commerce and Industry of Mali; the Federation of Businesses of the Congo;
and the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique.
Thus, the number of
countries, trade partners, entrepreneurs, financial, trade and business
associations, with which the Roscongress Foundation has established interaction
on the basis of international partnership agreements increased from 94 to 107.
569 meetings were held at the Forum’s working
space, which was organized by the Roscongress Foundation with the support of
the Russian Export Center.
4. Exhibition
The exhibition tied together various sectors of
the Russian economy, including agriculture, heavy and light manufacturing,
military and civilian engineering, and much more. The Russian Export Center
organized a large-scale exhibit, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM
presented renewable energy sources, and Transmashholding brought modern
developments in passenger transport to the attention of participants: the
two-car RA-3 railbus, which went into operation at the end of August 2019, the
control car of the Moscow-2019 train, which was commissioned by the Moscow
Metro, and both sleeper and non-sleeper locomotive-hauled cars, built according
to the principle of two-car coupling. A VR area was set up at the stand, giving
visitors the opportunity to tour a passenger car of the future.
GAZ presented the latest developments in
automotive engineering, including mobile medical stations. The Roscongress
Foundation and Gazprom jointly organized the Innovation Space, an innovation
cluster that formed part of the exhibition. Thirteen high-tech Russian
companies working in water supply systems, biological fertilizers, internet
services and telemedicine presented their projects at stands: Agratek Bio,
RDP.RU, VIST Mining Technology, Bionovatic, Smart Mini-Clinic (AMCIA), Finteka,
Zeldis Pharma, Istochnik Zdorovya, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Gamaleya,
Avtonomika, Intelligent Scanning Systems and Kalancha. As part of the
exhibition, Goznak presented technologies related to the manufacture of
products for cash circulation, as well as various identification documents and
systems.
An exhibit showcasing the defence industry was
presented in a single exhibition space at the main venue of the Sirius Park of
Science and Art.
Thirty industry leaders, including Russian
Railways, PhosAgro, United Aircraft Corporation, and PROTEI participated in the
exhibition, presenting sought-after solutions for mobile network operators and
comprehensive security systems for implementing the ‘safe city’ concept among
other technologies aimed at foreign markets.
Representing the African side at the exhibition
were Djibouti, which presented modern logistical platforms, as well as Kenya,
DR Congo, and the Moroccan national carrier Royal Air Maroc.
Participants of the Russia–Africa Economic
Forum took a special interest in the Discover Russian Cuisine festival, where
international head chefs opened the festival’s extensive gastronomic programme.
The Forum’s guests and participants were delighted by the regional products on
offer at the gastromarket. The highlight of the gastronomic programme was a
huge samovar, which was used to serve different varieties of Krasnodar tea.
Head chefs from Luxembourg, France, Belgium and Russia participated in the
programme.
Goznak also held sales of commemorative coins
minted by the Bank of Russia at its stand. Visitors at the stand showed an
interest in new minting technologies based on composite materials and in the
commemorative banknotes presented in window displays.
5. Media
The Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum was
covered by around 800 media representatives (over 500 Russian and 250
international) representing 43 foreign countries: Algeria, Angola, Belgium,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, France, Germany,
Guinea, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nigeria, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, South Africa,
Spain, the Ghana, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, the
United Kingdom, the USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
6. Volunteers
650 volunteers fluent in English, French, Arabic,
Portuguese and Spanish and representing cities including Moscow, St.
Petersburg, Chelyabinsk, Arkhangelsk, Volgograd, Armavir, Krasnodar,
Rostov-on-Don and Sochi participated in organizing the Russia–Africa Summit and
Economic Forum.
7. Cultural programme
A Gala Reception hosted by the President of the
Russian Federation was held as part of the Summit and Forum cultural programme.
The spouses of the heads of African states visited the Sochi Olympic Park and
the Rosa Khutor resort on 24 October. In the evening, participants and guests
of the Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum were invited to a gala concert
featuring stars of Russian figure skating. The world-class ice show synthesized
figure skating, theatrical performances, music, acrobatics and cutting-edge
stage sets.
8. Roscongress Information
and Analytical System
The Information and Analytical System of the
Roscongress Foundation continued developing its Summary service, a joint effort
by the Roscongress Foundation and the Russian News Agency TASS, which provides
readers with a condensed version of key discussions, describing the
conclusions, problems, and solutions mentioned therein. A total of 34 short
analytical summaries have been prepared following the outcomes of the
Russia–Africa Economic Forum.
A special publication covering the outcomes of
the Russia–Africa Economic Forum, ROSCONGRESS INSIDER, will be made available
on the official website of the event summitafrica.ru/en
and on the Roscongress Informationa and Analytical System website roscongress.org/en.
Around 9,100 hotel
rooms in 30 hotels in Adler, Imeretinskaya, Krasnaya Polyana and central Sochi
were booked in the run-up to the Russia–Africa Summit, as well as around 900
vehicles. Sochi International Airport facilitated around 700 take-off and
landing operations and saw a passenger throughput of 2,500 people per hour
during the days of the Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum.
Event organizer –
Roscongress Foundation; co-organizers of the Russia–Africa Economic Forum –
Russian Export Center and Afreximbank.
