Adviser to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) President and Chairman of the Board of Directors Benedict Oramah held a meeting in Moscow at which they discussed, among other things, the development of the Russian-African agenda as part of key business events as well as preparations for the second Russia—Africa Summit.
Kobyakov congratulated Oramah on receiving an honorary state award and also noted Afreximbank’s significant contribution to the development of Russian-African multilateral cooperation: «We highly appreciate your personal contribution to the development of Russian-African relations, which is confirmed by the Order of Friendship that the Russian president presented for your merits in strengthening friendship and cooperation between peoples as well as productive activities for the rapprochement and mutual enrichment of the cultures of nations and nationalities. Afreximbank is an active participant in key business events, including the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, and also served as a co-organizer of the Russia—Africa Economic Forum,» Kobyakov said.
The two officials discussed a Russian delegation’s participation in the Intra-African Trade Fair in South Africa, which will be held on 15–21 November 2021 in Durban, South Africa. The Roscongress Foundation will provide information support for the event and will also invite business representatives to attend. More than 20 major Russian companies will present expositions at the fair. The fair is being organized in 2021 by Afreximbank in cooperation with the African Union Commission and the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area. The Association of Economic Cooperation with African States will be responsible for coordinating the Russian business delegation’s trip to the fair.
The discussion addressed the organization of the second Russia—Africa Summit and Economic Forum. «We continue to work on developing Russian-African relations, including by providing support for key joint projects that were launched at the Summit,» Oramah said.
At the Russia—Africa Summit and Economic Forum in 2019, 92 agreements, contracts, and memorandums of understanding were signed. The total value of the documents that were signed, excluding documents that contain commercial secrets, amounted to RUB 1.004 trillion. The Russia—Africa Summit is organized by the Roscongress Foundation.
The Secretariat of the Russia—Africa Partnership Forum was created to coordinate the wide range of relations between Russia and African countries. The Secretariat’s procedures and regulations call for the initial drafting of roadmaps with specific targets that must be reached by the Summit in 2022.
Afreximbank is traditionally actively involved in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The Bank served as a partner of the Forum in 2019 and 2021. Oramah also confirmed Afreximbank’s readiness to take part in a visiting session of the SPIEF in February 2022 in Cairo, which will be held as part of preparations for the 25th anniversary of the Forum.
In addition, Kobyakov and Oramah discussed the issue of rouble-denominated bonds of Afreximbank as well as cooperation with the Russian Agency for Export Credit and Investment Insurance on the exchange of experts to work in Russia and Africa.
