President Vladimir Putin Message to Participants, First Russia–Africa Economic Forum

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a message to participants attending the first Russia–Africa Economic Forum, which will be held in Sochi on 23–24 October 2019 on the sidelines of the Russia–Africa Summit. The events will be the largest of their kind in the history of Russia–Africa relations.

President Putin specifically highlighted the importance of developing cooperation between countries and the positive experience that has been gained from developing joint projects: “Russian-African relations, which have traditionally been friendly and partner-like, have intensified significantly in recent years both at the bilateral level and in various multilateral formats.

We have not only managed to preserve the experience gained from fruitful cooperation in the past, but have also achieved new major successes. Positive trends have been seen in trade turnover numbers and in the investment flows, and joint projects are being developed in the extractive industry, agriculture, healthcare, and education. Russian companies are ready to offer our African partners their scientific and technological developments and experience in modernizing energy, transport, and communication infrastructure.”

Putin also expressed confidence that the Forum will become a unique platform for the discussion and adoption of constructive decisions that aim to enhance cooperation: “I hope that new areas and forms of cooperation will be outlined during the Forum and promising joint initiatives will be put forward that will help take Russian-African collaboration to a whole new level and develop our economies and the prosperity of our peoples.”