KEY CONCLUSIONS
Africa
is attractive for investment and trade
«A promising area of cooperation involves attracting big
Russian investors in industries strategic for many African countries, such as agriculture,
mining or processing raw material,» Andrey Kostin, President and Chairman of
the Management Board, VTB Bank.
«Africa is a large consumer of agricultural produce.
Last year, the volume of our export exceeded USD 4.6 billion,» Sergey Yushin,
Head of the Executive Committee, National Meat Association.
«We watch Africa closely and with affection. We see the
continents great opportunities and readiness to cooperate with Russian companies,»
Mushegh Sahakyan, Director for International Development, Yandex.Taxi.
Russia
has the right technologies to develop the African region
«The key objective is to take the level of life on the
African continent up to the global standards of developed countries. Its basic aspect
is food security, while the ultimate priority includes providing a variety of
good and healthy food. It is paramount that all African residents have access
to such ration. It is a strategic goal, and we are able and willing to help our
African partners with it,» Dmitry Mazepin, Chairman of the Board of Directors,
URALCHEM.
«Russia is the worlds only market where local online services
win over their American rivals in an open and fair competition,» Mushegh
Sahakyan, Director for International Development, Yandex.Taxi.
«It is the synergy of using digital technologies that gives
the positive effect that we see in our countrys budgetary segment,» Alexey
Overchuk, Deputy Commissioner, Federal Tax Service of Russia.
«Russia is the pioneer of nuclear energy. The worlds first
nuclear power plant was launched in no other place than here 65 years ago, and
throughout the course of history we have been the worlds leader in developing
innovative nuclear technologies. <...> We work around the globe and pay a special
attention to the African continent, which is undoubtfully an area of growth,»
Kirill Komarov, First Deputy General Director, Director of Development and
International Business Unit, ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation.
«Existing competencies of Russian Railways will be
demanded in Africa. African countries are about to reach leading social and economic
performance. By 2050, over one third of global population increase will occur
in African countries. Keeping this pace, ensuring the quality of economic growth
and life is only possible through developing railways. This has been proved by the
worlds experience,» Oleg Belozerov, Chief Executive Officer Chairman of the
Executive Board, Russian Railways.
«In our country, vast territories belong to the zone of
risky agriculture, therefore over the decades Russian companies have
accumulated unique agricultural competencies. <...> Our companies are becoming
primary partners in the African continent in both produce and technology
export,» Dmitry Mazepin, Chairman of the Board of Directors, URALCHEM.
«We possess colossal information on African countries
geology. No other country in the world has this information. We boast 40 years of
experience in 26 African countries, which is fairly big. We understand how complicated
geological aspects can be tackled. We bring new technologies. <...> This allows
us to create new jobs and infrastructure and be the cornerstone for the economy
of whole regions and countries, which apart from other things plays a major role
in export and impacts social stability,» Sergey Gorkov, General Director,
Chairman of the Management Board, Rosgeologia.
PROBLEMS
New
challenges and risks
«We look at the world around us. We look at the new digital
economy challenges and realize that government agencies in charge of state revenue
should meet these challenges and be one step ahead of them. This concerns value
added chains we are getting new ones now; the role of intangible assets is growing;
new virtual transborder goods and services, as well cryptocurrencies appear.
These are the new challenges that tax services all over the world face,» Alexey
Overchuk, Deputy Commissioner, Federal Tax Service of Russia.
SOLUTIONS
Developing
legal environment for cooperation
«Potential partnership with the countries of the African
region is based on developing the contractual basis of our bilateral
cooperation in healthcare,» Veronika Skvortsova, Minister of Health of the
Russian Federation.
«Successful development of relations requires lower non-tariff
barriers, that is why we count on well-balanced phytosanitary requirements set
by importing countries, as well as clear, precise and transparent business
rules. <...> Government policy aims to deliver organic, environment friendly
and safe produce,» Sergey Yushin, Head of the Executive Committee, National
Meat Association.
Cooperation
in innovative technologies
«Joint development of technologies with the use of artificial
intelligence has a great potential for our cooperation. Artificial intelligence
technologies develop swiftly and will help resolve the most pressing issues impacting
African countries and will result in the growth and development of the most
important segments of the economy,» Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman
of the Executive Board, Sberbank.
«Russia has a high level of digitalization, talented engineers,
that is why we plan to invest in Russia in the future,» Phuthi
Mahanyele-Dabengwa, Chief Executive Officer, Naspers Ltd.
For more
information, visit the Roscongress Foundations Information and Analytical
System www.roscongress.org