Russia, Islamic Trade & Services Showing Dynamic Growth

The Russia-Islamic World International Economic Forum has now finished, with Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin attending. The event was held in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan and itself a majority Muslim region of Russia.

In his summarizing remarks, Khusnullin said that “Developing ties with Islamic states is one of the priorities of Russia’s foreign policy. In times of geopolitical tension, we see efforts to erode traditional moral norms. The preservation and protection of spiritual and ethical values is acquiring exceptional significance. Islam, together with other traditional religions, is an essential part of Russian history and culture, playing a key role in shaping the spiritual values of our society. For centuries, Russian Muslims have contributed enormously to the country’s development, to strengthening its defence, and to preserving peace and harmony among peoples.”

Khusnullin also emphasised that thanks to the efforts of the Strategic Vision Group, key economic indicators are improving. Over the past five years, trade between Russia and the countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has shown positive dynamics. The volume of trade in goods has doubled, and trade in services has quadrupled. Tourism has also emerged as a growth driver: mutual tourist flows have increased 2.5 times, reaching 19 million people in 2024. The OIC includes 57 member states, 48 of which are Muslim majority. Collectively, the OIC has a population of about 2 billion and a GDP (PPP) of around US$10 trillion.

Rustam Minnikhanov, President of Tatarstan and head of the Strategic Vision Group, emphasised that the cultural and strategic policy in Russia and OIC countries is evolving amid global challenges and the need to strengthen inter civilizational dialogue. He stated that “Russia’s cooperation with Muslim states demonstrates the existence of common challenges and successful models of cooperation that deserve replication. The gap between traditional values and the ongoing process of globalization requires joint efforts to develop approaches to the moral and spiritual education of youth. Meaningful initiatives in this direction may include expanding cooperation between Russian academia and ICESCO and Islamic universities, including potential pilot projects in Tatarstan. Today’s session is aimed at promoting deeper understanding and experience-sharing between Russia and OIC member states in the field of youth policy.”

These sentiments were echoed by the attending Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who said that “Two days ago, I had the opportunity to meet Vladimir Putin in person. He specifically thanked Malaysia for supporting this forum and highlighted Tatarstan’s role in fostering peace, sustainable growth, and inclusivity. I welcome these initiatives, it is time for Muslim scholars, ulema, and the broader community to actively engage in this work. Our youth must not stand by while researchers and scholars argue over secondary matters, especially as such meaningful projects are being implemented in Kazan. In Malaysia, we focus on cultural development and technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, while remaining rooted in values and moral principles.”