OMM Newsroom
Russian President Vladimir Putin invited African airlines to begin flights to Russia on Wednesday, speaking at the plenary session of the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in Moscow, Anadolu Agency reported.
Putin said Russia was ready to expand cooperation with African countries in trade, energy, pharmaceuticals and transport. He said Moscow could offer partners support in developing reliable logistics routes to boost trade and investment, as well as help design, build and modernize railways, roads, sea routes and transport hubs. Those facilities could be equipped with digital management, tracking and customs declaration systems, he added.
Trade between Russia and Africa could exceed $50 billion in the near future, Putin said. He put trade turnover at more than $27 billion last year, up from $18 billion in 2022, and said Russia could at least double the figure soon. Russia is also involved in more than 30 prospective energy projects across 16 African countries, he said.
Russia plans to localize the production of medicines and vaccines in Africa and establish laboratories and diagnostic centers, Putin said.
He described the growing influence of African countries on the international stage as part of a shift toward a more equitable, multipolar world in which the voices of the majority are increasingly heard. Putin said Russia and African nations had jointly helped lay the foundations for a fairer international order, and recalled Moscow’s historical support for African liberation movements, economic development and the formation of national armed forces.
Putin criticized Western efforts to push African countries into what he called a “debt trap,” and described tariff wars and sanctions as “tools of neocolonialism.” He also called for changes to the functioning of the IMF and the World Bank, saying their work should be redirected toward the needs of developing economies.
The forum is being held alongside a two-day Russia-Africa summit, the third since 2019, which has brought many African leaders to Moscow. Later on Wednesday, Putin met leaders of African regional organizations at the Kremlin and visited an exhibition held as part of the summit.
