March 1, 2023 Panel session "New Russian strategy for developing cooperation with African countries on the eve of the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit"

From March 1 to March 3, 2023, the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia held the annual international scientific conference "Africa in the Context of the Formation of a new system of international relations" (AFNSIR-2023). Famous African scholars, employees of Russian state and commercial organizations, university professors, young researchers, and representatives of the African diaspora took part in its work. More than 100 participants signed up to attend its panel sessions online alone.

Within the framework of this conference, on March 1, the Institute for African Studies organized in person and online a panel session “A New Russian Strategy for the Development of Cooperation with African Countries on the Eve of the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit”, moderated by the Director of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, professor, Dr Sc. (Economics) Irina Abramova.

The speakers at the meeting touched upon the profound changes taking place in Russian-African trade and economic relations as a result of the anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the countries of the collective West, the prospects and tools for their development with individual countries and regions of Africa, as well as the problems of the Russian-African military-technical and humanitarian cooperation.

Of particular interest were the proposals made by the speakers to the program of holding the second Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum in St. Petersburg in July 2023. Among them is the need to focus on the transfer of Russian technologies for the digitalization of public finances to Africa, the promotion of the SPFS system of the Bank of Russia in the banking systems of African countries, and building direct contacts with African agricultural producers - potential exporters of products to Russia, which will balance the trade balance and stimulate settlements in national currencies.

Several provisions and proposals for the program of the Second Summit and the Russia-Africa Economic Forum expressed at the panel session provoked a lively discussion among the meeting participants and questions to the speakers. We do not doubt that these and other proposals made by experts will contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of the work of the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum.