Critical domains for proactive collaboration encompass agriculture and food production, automotive manufacturing, workforce development, oil extraction, medicine, and metallurgy.
During a roundtable meeting, senators from the Federation Council and experts deliberated on urgent matters concerning the enhancement of foreign economic relations between the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the regions of African nations. This forum, presided over by Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin, was organised in conjunction with the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy and the Federation Council Committee on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management.
Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev, along with Russian senators Sergei Kislyak, Sergei Mitin, Lyudmila Skakovskaya, and Belan Khamchiev, in addition to representatives from federal executive bodies, Russian constituent entities, and the expert community, took part in the discussions.
Konstantin Kosachev observed that the Federation Council wholly endorses the direct advancement of interregional connections. However, he remarked that Russian regions have yet to exhibit sufficient initiative in promoting their products within African markets. In this context, the Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council proposed the consolidation of such information within the pertinent Federation Council Committee to subsequently promote it during engagements with foreign counterparts, while urging Russian regions to prioritise partnerships with African countries.
Grigory Karasin further noted that Russian constituent entities currently maintain a limited number of agreements with African regions.
The legislator recalled that, at the Federation Council’s behest, provisions intended to foster interregional and intermunicipal links were incorporated into the 2023–2026 Action Plan adopted at the second Russia-Africa Forum. “In particular, this Plan envisages support for initiatives to establish reciprocal connections between Russian and African regional and municipal authorities, as well as facilitation in the conclusion of agreements between constituent entities of the Russian Federation and regions of African states. The formation of a Council of Heads of Regions and Municipalities of Russia and African states, along with the inauguration of a platform to advance Russian-African interregional and intermunicipal ties, are scheduled.”
“Over recent years, our nation as a whole, and Russian regions specifically, have garnered substantial expertise in organising urban infrastructure, social services, and governance within “smart city” frameworks. In these respects, Russia does not trail behind – and frequently surpasses – the collective West. We must actively disseminate this expertise to our African colleagues. This is crucial, among other objectives, to broaden our humanitarian presence on the continent,” emphasised Grigory Karasin.
In his judgement, it is imperative to invigorate direct dialogue not only between regions but also municipalities. “All legal prerequisites for this have been established. Approximately fifty of the Federation’s constituent entities have enacted legislation governing the procedure for local self-government bodies to engage in international and foreign economic relations. These pertinent powers were conferred upon them in August 2023, following amendments to the Federal Law On the General Principles of Organising Local Self-Government in the Russian Federation. Now, the practical application of these legal norms is required,” stated the Senator.
First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management Sergei Mitin underscored that the rapidly burgeoning economies of African nations present a favourable climate for fruitful multifaceted collaboration across a broad spectrum of sectors. “Critical domains for proactive collaboration encompass agriculture and food production, automotive manufacturing, workforce development, oil extraction, medicine, and metallurgy.”
Drawing on an analysis by experts of the Federation Council Committee, Sergei Mitin outlined opportunities to extend cooperation in the agricultural sector, encompassing seed production, fertiliser manufacturing, primary processing and storage of agricultural products, and aquaculture.
Senators and experts explored the further enhancement of trade, economic, and humanitarian ties between the constituent entities and municipalities of the Russian Federation and regions of African nations, existing bottlenecks, and prospects to strengthen Russian-African interregional collaboration, including through parliamentary channels.