On July 1, the first meeting of the newly formed expert group took place within the walls of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), bringing together specialists in foreign economic cooperation with African countries. The purpose of the meeting was to enable participants to get acquainted and establish a common framework for project coordination ahead of the Third Russia–Africa Summit.
Opening the meeting, Vladislav Mishchenko, Vice-President of the MCCI for International and Interregional Activities, emphasized the relevance of strategic partnership with African states: “Today we have implemented a simple idea – to bring together those actively working on the African track for networking and consolidating expert opinion. At present, the African continent is a strategic priority in the Russian Federation’s foreign trade cooperation.” He noted that in recent years, Russia’s diplomatic presence on the continent has expanded significantly: 45 Russian embassies are now operating in African countries, and an increasing number of regional and business representations of domestic brands are being opened. It was also stressed that the meeting was organized on the eve of the Third Russia–Africa Summit, which will take place in Moscow on October 28–29, 2026. Leaders from most African states are expected to participate in the Summit, where they will discuss cooperation, trade, investment, and security issues.
The expert group is an effective format for sharing experience. Each country is unique in its own way, which is precisely why it is so important to exchange experience on the work of Russian companies in African regions. During the expert group meeting, participants of the business dialogue gave self-presentations, discussed potential areas of cooperation, as well as ideas for joint projects and initiatives that could be implemented with the participation of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its partners.
Expert meetings in the business dialogue format help enhance the involvement of the Russian business community in mutually beneficial cooperation with African countries.
The event was held with the support of the Moscow Government and the Department of Economic Policy and Development of the City of Moscow.
