July 16, 2019 Participation of the Director of the Institute for African Studies of the RAS, corresponding member, Prof. Irina Abramova in the meeting of the Business Council at the Russian foreign Ministry

On July 16, 2019 Director of the Institute for African studies, corresponding member, Professor Irina Abramova took part in the meeting of the Business Council under the Minister of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation on the development of economic relations of Russian Federation with African countries in the context of preparations for the economic forum and the Russia-Africa summit. The meeting was chaired by Russian foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

The focus of the event was on expanding and deepening Russian - African trade, economic and investment cooperation in anticipation of the Sochi events in the Russia-Africa format. They also discussed the issues of increasing the efficiency of political and diplomatic support for Russian business projects on the African continent.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Russian foreign Ministry, other interested ministries and agencies, scientific, business and public circles.

Minister of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov noted the importance of increasing the efficiency of political and diplomatic support for Russian business projects on the African continent in order to strengthen the positions of domestic business circles in foreign markets. The foreign Minister, in particular, said: “Our relations with Africans are reaching a new level, including the trade and economic sphere. The first-ever Russia - Africa summit should give a special impetus to these processes.”

According to the Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation, Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding in of the summit “Russia – Africa” Anton Kobyakov, the organization of the Summit and the Economic forum “Russia – Africa” is a natural result of increasing interest of both sides to cooperation in recent years. “The Annual meeting of the African export-import Bank held in Moscow in June this year showed that Russia has already accumulated considerable experience of local partnerships on the African continent and has established effective communication on the development of joint projects. The holding of the summit And the Russia - Africa Economic forum will help Russian business to consolidate its position in one of the centers of growth of the world economy” Anton Kobyakov stressed.