A plenary session on the Women’s Outlook track took place on the first day of the 15th International Economic Forum in Kazan.
The agenda of the first day of the 15th Russia − Islamic World: KazanForum 2024 International Economic Forum included a plenary session on the Women’s Outlook track sponsored by the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Council of the Eurasian Women’s Forum jointly with the Merhemet–Miloserdiye (Mercy) Association of Woman Deputies of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan.
In her welcoming remarks, Chair of the Federation Council’s Eurasian Women’s Forum Council (EWF Council) Senator Galina Karelova stressed women’s contribution to international socioeconomic cooperation between Russia and countries in the Islamic world. Specifically, she noted that the Eurasian Women’s Forum had given a new impetus to cooperation between women in Russia and countries in the Islamic world, with women from Islamic countries being actively involved in a number of the EWF Council’s projects.
“Business missions are regularly organised as part of the Promoting Women’s Entrepreneurship and Women’s Cooperation in International Trade projects and women’s business forums are held both in Russia and Arab countries. Women from Islamic countries are permanently involved in the Eurasian Women’s Forum’s Woman Leader educational programme,” Galina Karelova said.
According to Ms Karelova, Russia’s trade with OIC countries has increased by almost 30 percent over the past three years. She added that women had contributed to that as well. “A number of international agreements have been signed owing to women’s partnership, and these agreements incentivise the development of consumer products industries in our countries,” she said.
Galina Karelova named yet another important project conceived by the Council of the Eurasian Women's Forum to unite women of Russia and countries in the Islamic world. The project is entitled Women’s Health is the Wellbeing of Nations and focused on enhancing the role of women in public health. This topic was discussed by the Dialogue of Women: Russia – the Arab World panel at the World of Opportunities International Forum held in April of this year.
According to Galina Karelova, this discussion will be continued at the Forum in Kazan and will highlight new initiatives. She noted that the women’s track was a permanent feature of the Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum. This year’s Women’s Outlook will focus on five issues: The Role of Women in Politics, The Traditional Family Spiritual Values as a Resource of Economic Development, Women for a Healthy Society: Advanced Ideas, Projects and Technologies that Unite Nations, A Success Story: Personal Experiences, and The Islamic Fashion: National Motives and Accessories.
Galina Karelova believes that these themes are also of importance for the 4th Eurasian Women’s Forum to be held in Russia in September of this year. She invited her audience to attend the event.
“We see much prospect in cooperation between Russian women and women of the Islamic world. We have many common topics for discussion. Partnership between our countries has made strides in recent years, trade grows, and cooperation advances in various areas. By joining this process, women will facilitate the further strengthening of economic and humanitarian ties,” Galina Karelova said.