On June 4, President of the Chamber Sergey Katyrin took part in the Russia - U.S. Business Dialogue, held as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The discussion was moderated on the Russian side by Svetlana Chupsheva, Director General of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. She noted that the Russia - U.S. dialogue on the sidelines of SPIEF is becoming a regular format: the discussion is being held for the second year in a row and brings together representatives of business, the expert community and development institutions. Sergey Katyrin said that contacts between the business communities of Russia and the United States had been maintained even during the most difficult periods. “We still have a dialogue today. We are in constant contact with the President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, so there are no problems when there are issues that need to be discussed, including legislative matters. We are approached both by companies operating in Russia and by American colleagues who are currently not present on the Russian market,” said the President of the Chamber. He emphasized that until 2021, active cooperation with American partners was maintained not only at the federal level, but also by regional chambers of commerce and industry. “Forty chambers of commerce and industry actively maintained relations with their American counterparts in various states. These included business missions, exchanges and participation in various events. Many are now in a waiting period, but the interest of American companies in the Russian market has noticeably increased following the change of administration in the United States,” Sergey Katyrin added. According to him, one of the key tasks for the further development of business cooperation will be to restore trust. “Any joint business is based on trust. It depends on how much you trust your partner and how much you can build joint ventures together. This is what we need to work on. We are ready for this, and we have all the necessary opportunities, including the network of chambers of commerce and industry. Today, we operate in 350 cities of the Russian Federation and are ready to organize communication for partners anywhere in the country,” said the head of the Chamber. Robert Agee, President and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, noted that the Russia - U.S. Business Dialogue has been held at SPIEF for several years and continues to attract strong interest from the business community. “Despite all the problems we have observed in recent years, interest in non-commercial, humanitarian and professional dialogue between the United States and Russia remains very significant. We see a huge demand from the business community, cultural organizations and expert circles for continued interaction and the search for mutual solutions,” he said. Kirill Dmitriev, Special Presidential Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, pointed out that the Russia - U.S. dialogue is important for global stability and the practical economic agenda. “There are 150 American companies that have continued their business in Russia, and more than 70% of them have been operating in Russia for more than 25 years. Business communication is working. But due to sanctions and restrictions, our trade turnover has fallen tenfold over the past six years,” he stated. Kirill Dmitriev named rare earth metals, energy, space, medicine, as well as new technologies and artificial intelligence among the promising areas of cooperation. According to him, after some time, cooperation in artificial intelligence could become one of the realistic areas for Russian-American business, since American entrepreneurs are traditionally focused on practical efficiency and project economics. “American businesspeople are very pragmatic; they look at the price. If we can provide the cheapest energy for artificial intelligence, this is a powerful resource for Russia,” he noted. Evgeny Tugolukov, founder of the Medscan group of medical companies and Chairman of the Committee for the Development of Healthcare and Medical Services of Business Russia, noted that healthcare retains potential for international cooperation. “Health and healthcare are outside politics in a practical sense. American, European and Asian companies continue to communicate with us. This communication takes place at the level of doctors and clinics,” he said. Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry, spoke about Moscow’s previous experience of cooperation with major U.S. cities in transport and urban infrastructure. According to him, such cooperation brought practical results to both sides, while the exchange of experience between cities remains in demand. He also noted that Moscow is currently actively developing cooperation with major cities in China, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. At the same time, according to him, the potential for restoring ties with American megacities remains. “Today, our friends and partners are the largest Chinese cities, the largest cities in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. These are the cities we work with every day. But I am confident that the useful relations we had with our American colleagues will return to a good friendly beginning,” Maxim Liksutov said. He expressed confidence that cooperation between megacities could be in demand not only in transport, but also in the development of high-tech industry, technology parks and the urban economy. Bob Foresman, Vice Chairman of KingsRock Advisors, noted that he had come to Russia for the first time since February 2022. According to him, interest in restoring business contacts between Russian and American businesses remains, but the return of major investment requires a political settlement and a reduction in sanctions risks. The discussion was also attended by David Giovanis, CEO of Somerset International Russia; Bruce Marks, Founder and Managing Director of Marks & Sokolov; Sergey Slipchenko, CEO of Philip Morris Sales and Marketing; and Peter Bely, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Promomed Group. Earlier today, President of the Chamber Sergey Katyrin moderated the session “25 Years of the SCO: A New Stage in the Development of the Trade, Economic and Business Agenda,” took part in the signing of a cooperation agreement between Sberbank of Russia and the Chamber, and held a series of meetings with federal media outlets. The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is taking place from June 3 to 6. The main theme of the forum is “Pragmatic Dialogue - A Path to a Stable Future.” The program is dedicated to shaping a new model of global development amid the transformation of the world economy.   Broadcast recording: https://forum-spb.ru/programme/business-programme/156691/                                                                                           Press Service of the Chamber, Nail Shakhvaliev

On June 1, 2026, the Chamber hosted an extended meeting of the Russian-Venezuelan Business Council, during which participants discussed prospects for developing trade, economic and business cooperation between Russia and Venezuela.   In his welcoming remarks, Vladimir Padalko, Vice-President of the Chamber, noted that despite the domestic political situation in the country, which was affected by the events of January 2026, Venezuela remains Russia’s strategic partner on the Latin American continent.   According to Vladimir Padalko, the Russian-Venezuelan Business Council serves as a key platform for developing bilateral business ties. In December 2023, the Russian-Venezuelan Bank Eurofinance Mosnarbank assumed leadership of the Council. Since April 2026, the Council has been headed by Sergey Goreslavsky, Advisor to the President and Chairman of the Management Board of JSC JSB Eurofinance Mosnarbank.   The Council is actively involved in strengthening practical ties between entrepreneurs of the two countries, while effectively fulfilling the task of developing cooperation in the financial sector. Among the landmark events recently held by the Council was the first-ever business forum “Russia and Venezuela - Strategic Partners,” which took place in Caracas in late October 2025.   The meeting was addressed by Sergey Goreslavsky, Chairman of the Business Council; Jesus Rafael Salazar Velasquez, Ambassador of Venezuela to Russia; Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov, Ambassador of Russia to Venezuela, who joined via videoconference; Anatoly Khvostikov, President and Chairman of the Management Board of JSC JSB Eurofinance Mosnarbank; representatives of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, as well as a number of Russian and Venezuelan business structures.   In their remarks, the speakers emphasized the mutual interest of Russian and Venezuelan business circles in continuing and expanding cooperation both within existing projects and in new initiatives across various sectors of the economy, including energy, agriculture, transport, tourism and IT technologies.   During the meeting, the Business Council’s work plan for 2026-2027 was approved.                                                                                              Department of External Relations, A. Baisheva

President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Sergey Katyrin headed the Chamber delegation at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which is taking place in St. Petersburg from June 3 to 6. As part of the business program, Sergey Katyrin will take part in key events dedicated to international business cooperation, the investment climate in the regions, entrepreneurship development and interaction between business and support institutions. In particular, he will moderate the session “25 Years of the SCO: A New Stage in the Development of the Trade, Economic and Business Agenda” and will also take part in the Russia - U.S. Business Dialogue. On the sidelines of the forum, the President of the Chamber is also expected to participate in events related to the presentation of the results of the National Rating of the Investment Climate in the Russian Regions. In addition, agreements on interaction and cooperation are planned to be signed between the Chamber, the Government of the Komi Republic and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Komi Republic, as well as between the Chamber, the Government of the Tula Region and the Tula Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A separate part of the program will be devoted to the Chamber’s interaction with financial institutions and business partners. The delegation’s schedule includes Sber events, including a business breakfast and the signing of a cooperation agreement between Sberbank of Russia and the Chamber. Sergey Katyrin will also take part in the plenary session of SPIEF 2026 and hold a series of meetings with representatives of federal media outlets. The Chamber Vice-Presidents Ilya Zubkov, Vladimir Padalko and Elena Dybova will also take part in the forum events. The main theme of SPIEF 2026 is “Pragmatic Dialogue - A Path to a Stable Future.” Saudi Arabia will be the guest country of the forum, timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia.                                                                                       Press Service of the Chamber, Nail Shakhvaliev

From May 16 to 18, a delegation from the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by Vice President Vladimir Padalko, is participating in business events on the sidelines of the Russia-China Expo. This year, the Expo is being held as part of the Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair, one of the leading exhibition events in Northeast China, attended by over 300,000 people.The Chamber's delegation includes Marat Bimatov, Director General of the ANO SoyuzExpertiza; Boris Stupnitsky, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Primorsky Krai; Marina Bogoslovskaya, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia); and Nurbek Atakanov, Honorary Representative of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. The delegation of Moscow entrepreneurs is led by Vladimir Platonov, President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Khabarovsk Krai Chamber of Commerce and Industry delegation, led in Harbin by Vice President Pyotr Yanchenko, includes more than 20 companies.On the day of his arrival, May 16, Vladimir Padalko met with the management of China Railways to discuss current issues of transport and logistics in bilateral trade.That same day, the Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry participated in a meeting between the delegation of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the leadership of the Russian-Chinese Investment Chamber. The talks focused on ways to implement the cooperation agreement between the two chambers, signed in 2025. At the meeting, the Chinese side expressed its readiness to invest in the economies of Russia's regions. On May 17, Vladimir Padalko attended the opening ceremony of the Russian-Chinese Expo and delivered a welcome address at the session "Cooperation for Innovative Development: Industry, Science, and Technology," organized by the Russian-Chinese Chamber. The main goal of the event was to outline the vectors of Russian-Chinese relations in industry, focusing on the potential for cooperation. In his welcome address, Vladimir Padalko noted that innovation and investment cooperation is becoming the core of the new global economic order, highlighting the need for greater involvement of Russian and Chinese regions in cooperation in mechanical engineering, electronics, and energy.Speakers at the session included Zhang Yujing, Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce for the Import and Export of Mechanical Engineering and Electronic Products (CCCME) and Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Chapter of the Russian-Chinese Chamber; Zhou Liqun, Chairman of the Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia; and Vladimir Platonov, President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry. On the same day, Vladimir Padalko spoke at the Sixth Russia-China Forum on Interregional Cooperation, which opened with greetings from Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Lin Ji and Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Vladimir Ilyichev.Also speaking at the Forum were Heilongjiang Province Governor Liang Huiling, the Head of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic Aisen Nikolaev, Primorsky Krai Governor Oleg Kozhemyako, and Zabaykalsky Krai Governor Alexander Osipov.In his speech, Vladimir Padalko noted the high level of Russian-Chinese cross-border cooperation. According to him, Heilongjiang Province's trade turnover with Russian regions alone will exceed $24.5 billion in 2025. However, the Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry emphasized that today, we still cannot call the state of our trade stable. Businessmen note that they currently lack business information, as well as a range of services that would protect them from losses and mistakes. This includes financial support for transactions, digital brokerage services, clear tariffs in transportation and logistics, product inspection, and other services.According to V. Padalko, entrepreneurs' initiatives are also being "chilled" by additional inspections, the introduction of export permits, quarantines, quotas, and weak security guarantees.With this in mind, V. Padalko explained, the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its subsidiary, SoyuzExpertiza, have decided to assist the Administrative Committee of the Harbin New District in organizing the activities of the Russian-Chinese Cooperation and Service Center established there. The goal is to connect the digital and expert capabilities of Northeast China with Russian regions through a network of chambers of commerce and industry. Both Russian and Chinese entrepreneurs, V. Padalko noted, highly praised the decision of the Russian and Chinese leaders to introduce a visa-free regime, but the general desire of businesses is to extend this regime for at least another two years, thereby supporting the Russian-Chinese movement towards mutual cooperation in defiance of sanctions and restrictions.On May 18, the Russian delegation held talks with the leadership of the Heilongjiang Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade, dedicated to specific issues of economic cooperation and projects for the further development of border trade and economic cooperation.                                              By Dmitriy Bystrov,                                                        Department of Foreign Relations

On May 13, Sergey Katyrin, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, held a working meeting with Rustam Minnikhanov, Head of Tatarstan. Heads of foreign chambers of commerce and industry participated in the meeting.The meeting was held as part of the 6th International Forum of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, which is part of the 17th International Economic Forum "Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum." Also participating were Ilya Zubkov, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, and Shamil Ageyev, Chairman of the Union of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tatarstan.Sergey Katyrin reported that the Chamber forum's business program includes thematic sessions devoted to key areas of international economic cooperation: tourism, including industrial tourism, food security, the creative economy, international commercial arbitration, and the development of trade and investment relations. Rustam Minnikhanov thanked the head of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for her long-standing, consistent work in organizing the International Chamber of Commerce and Industry Forum, which is strengthening its status as a reputable international platform for business communication each year.This year, 27 foreign chambers of commerce and industry and 35 delegations from Russian regions are participating."We have already learned to work under sanctions pressure and have been able to replace many imported manufacturers with domestic products and technologies. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry's international activities have played a significant role in this. We look forward to further strengthening our cooperation with our colleagues from Muslim countries, including through the mechanisms of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Tatarstan and Russia," said Rustam Minnikhanov.He emphasized that Tatarstan is confidently strengthening its position as an international center for business diplomacy. In 2024, Kazan successfully hosted the BRICS summit, confirming the high level of trust in the republic and its infrastructure. This year, in accordance with the decree of the President of Russia, the Russia-ASEAN Forum is planned to be held in Kazan. This will be another important step in the development of multi-vector international cooperation."This kind of comprehensive work creates a solid foundation for expanding cooperation with your countries. We see great potential in deepening our partnership and hope that Tatarstan's platforms, including KazanForum and the International Forum of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, will become an effective tool for building long-term contacts," added Rustam Minnikhanov.During the meeting, representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Oman, the UAE, Turkey, and the Businesswomen's Council of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce presented their chambers of commerce and industry and outlined promising areas for developing cooperation.Photo: website of the Raisa of the Republic of Tatarstan.                                   By Nail Shakhvaliev,                                     Press Service of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and IndustryBased on materials from the press service of the Raisa of the Republic of Tatarstan

The 17th International Economic Forum "Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum 2026" has opened in Kazan. On May 13-14, a delegation from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, led by President Sergey Katyrin, is participating in the forum's events, as well as the 6th International Forum of OIC Chambers of Commerce and Industry, which is being held at KazanForum.The Chamber's delegation includes Vice Presidents of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Denis Frantsuzov, Elena Dybova, Vadim Chubarov, and Ilya Zubkov; Director of the Digital Technologies Department of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Vladimir Maslov; Director of the Entrepreneurship Development Department of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Denis Dybov; and representatives of the chambers of commerce and industry system.One of the key events of the program, featuring the participation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, will be a meeting between the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Sergey Katyrin and the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov. The meeting will also include heads of foreign chambers of commerce and industry. On the same day, the Korston Hotel, Shopping and Entertainment Complex will host the grand opening of the 6th International Forum of OIC Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The central panel session will be "Digital Transformation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry System in Russia: Implementing Artificial Intelligence Technologies."Business ProgramAt KazanForum, Chamber representatives will participate in specialized sessions.Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Elena Dybova will speak at the session "Public Procurement: New Challenges and Exchange of Experience." Participants will discuss entrepreneurs' access to procurement, increasing the transparency of procedures, and the exchange of international and regional experience.Elena Dybova will also participate in a special session of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation "State Audit: A Strategic Partner in Performance Management for Sustainable Economic Growth."Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Denis Frantsuzov will participate in the session "Ensuring Freedom of Economic Activity and Technological Sovereignty in the Context of the End of the Era of Globalization." Discussion topics will include creating predictable business conditions, protecting entrepreneurial initiative, technological independence, and the role of business associations in developing industrial and innovation policy.Vadim Chubarov, Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will moderate the session "International Commercial Arbitration in OIC Countries: Interaction and Cooperation." The discussion will focus on the development of alternative mechanisms for resolving foreign economic disputes, strengthening trust in arbitration institutions, and the capabilities of the International Commercial Arbitration Court (ICAC) at the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. On May 14, the business program, featuring representatives of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will continue at the Kazan Expo IEC. Sergey Katyrin will participate in a tour of the exhibition on international cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world and will give a video interview at the TASS news agency stand.On the same day, Sergey Katyrin will moderate the session "Tourism as a Tool for Economic Cooperation between Russia and OIC Countries: From Industrial Routes to Investment Projects," organized by the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.Also on May 14, the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will hold a session titled "Creative Economy: New Export Brands, Industries, and Growth Points." The discussion will focus on developing competitive Russian export brands, promoting creative industries in OIC markets, international cooperation in design, fashion, gallery business, and media, and intellectual property monetization tools. The 17th International Economic Forum "Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum 2026" is being held from May 12 to 17 in Kazan. The forum's theme is "Russia – Islamic World: Trust and Cooperation."KazanForum is one of the key platforms for economic cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world, bringing together representatives of government, business, development institutions, the expert community, and international organizations.The international exhibition "Russia & Islamic World Cooperation Expo" is taking place at KazanForum. The exhibition features investment and infrastructure projects, technology alliances, B2B initiatives, regional stands, products from large businesses and SMEs, as well as solutions in Islamic finance and mechanical engineering. The exhibition focuses on export development, production localization, cross-border investment, and industrial cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world. Press Service of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

On May 6, employees of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and its subsidiary organizations laid a wreath and flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin Wall and at the monument to Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov.The ceremony took place ahead of the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, which will be celebrated on May 9, 2026.The tribute was paid by the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Sergey Katyrin, and Vice Presidents Elena Dybova, Vadim Chubarov, Vladimir Padalko, and Denis Frantsuzov.The wreath-laying ceremony was attended by Vladimir Strashko, General Director of PJSC WTC, Marat Bimatov, General Director of ANO SoyuzExpertiza, Sergey Selivanov, Deputy General Director of JSC Expocentre, and representatives of other subsidiary organizations. Earlier, Sergei Katyrin laid flowers at a memorial plaque in the Chamber's main building on Ilyinka Street, bearing the names of the All-Union Chamber of Commerce employees who died at the front."During the country's most difficult times, the Chamber's activities were entirely focused on assisting the front, collecting and analyzing technical and economic information on strategic raw materials, and developing and publishing manuals and drawings. Men of draft age went to the front to honorably fulfill their duty to the Motherland," Sergei Katyrin noted in his official Victory Day congratulations.According to him, this day is forever inscribed in the history of our country as a symbol of the unwavering patriotism and unparalleled courage of the Soviet people, selflessly devoted to their homeland.                                           By Nail Shakhvaliev,                         Press Service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation

On April 28, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation hosted a round table titled «Russia - Sahel States: Prospects for Business Cooperation.» The event brought together representatives of federal authorities, development institutions, the expert community and business associations. The participants discussed the current state of bilateral business cooperation and developed recommendations for addressing existing challenges faced by Russian companies working with partners in the African subregion. Opening the meeting, Vladimir Padalko, Vice-President of the Chamber, emphasized that the current economic and political situation in the Sahara-Sahel zone is characterized by a number of deep structural problems. Among the factors objectively limiting the business activity of Russian companies, he mentioned unreliable energy infrastructure, shortcomings in the financial system, including limited access to lending and the absence of investment protection mechanisms, difficulties in transporting export-import cargo, including high transport costs, as well as the difficult domestic political situation marked by increased activity of radical groups. Mikhail Shulgin, Deputy Director of the Department for Sub-Saharan African States of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, briefed the participants on the current situation in the region and the state of Russia’s bilateral contacts with the Sahel states. He outlined priority areas of cooperation and noted the importance of expanding trade, economic and investment cooperation, taking into account the existing potential. Dmitry Poduev, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Energy, emphasized that the Sahel is viewed as a macroregion that makes it possible to build a comprehensive approach to promoting Russian interests. According to him, given the continued imbalance in the trade structure toward Russian exports, it is important to identify niches both for supplies of Russian goods and for possible imports from the countries of the region, which could also help reduce logistics costs. Nikita Ponomarenko, Director of the International Initiatives Division of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, spoke about approaches to developing initiatives for cooperation with the Sahel countries and creating mechanisms that could help involve companies, including medium-sized businesses. He noted that the countries of the region face complex challenges, while promising solutions lie at the intersection of water, energy and food security, personnel training and the introduction of adapted technological solutions. Alexander Tysyachnikov, Expert of the Scientific Council of the Russian Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics Organizations, presented an assessment of logistics constraints in working with West African countries, pointing to the high dependence on foreign carriers and the difficulty of building sustainable routes. During the discussion, the participants also emphasized the need to develop settlement infrastructure and instruments that would allow businesses to reduce risks when implementing foreign trade projects. Pavel Shibilov, International Development Project Manager at the Russian Export Center, spoke about the current formats of the REC’s cooperation with the Sahel countries and emphasized its readiness to consider incoming initiatives aimed at supporting projects in the region. He noted that a significant share of transactions may be carried out through third jurisdictions, which makes it more difficult to reflect such operations in statistics, while interest in Russian goods and solutions in this area remains. Denis Degterev, Chief Research Fellow at the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, stated that the sustainable promotion of projects in the Sahel countries requires deeper analytics and project support, including an understanding of sectoral specifics and local operating conditions. He emphasized the importance of adjusting legal conditions, payment mechanisms and project management approaches, and also noted the prospects of digital solutions that make it possible to develop certain areas of cooperation without a large-scale physical presence. The discussion was also attended by Sergey Kononenko, Deputy Chairman of the Mining Association; Mikhail Smirnov, President of the Energy Innovative Enterprises Association «EnergoInnovation» and member of the Chamber’s Committee on Energy Strategy and Fuel and Energy Complex Development; Yuri Petrov, Advisor to the Director General for International Cooperation at the Directorate of International Transport Corridors; and Mikhail Vasilyev, Moscow Government Expert on Sahel Countries. Following the round table, a decision was made to establish a Consulting Center at the Chamber. Its mandate will include forming a pool of Russian companies interested in mutual trade and cooperation with the Sahel states, with a focus on implementing targeted projects in key sectors, including agriculture, the food industry, mining of non-ferrous and rare metals and ores, construction and energy.   Department of External Relations, Sergey Markelov

On April 21, 2026, the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a meeting with the leadership and representatives of the diplomatic corps of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).The meeting was moderated by Vladimir Padalko, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He noted that similar events had previously been held regularly at the Chamber, but were unfortunately interrupted by the pandemic. "Today, against the backdrop of the global restructuring of global economic relations, we consider our meeting necessary and timely. I am grateful to all of you for finding the opportunity to attend in person," said the Vice-President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.We had two main goals in organizing today's meeting, Padalko said: first, to "synchronize watches" and develop a consolidated approach to the further development of trade and economic cooperation between Russia and ASEAN countries in the new environment; Secondly, establishing closer working contacts between the embassies and trade missions of ASEAN countries in Moscow and all elements of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) across the entire spectrum of business issues. Vladimir Padalko stated that today the Chamber is the largest association of entrepreneurs in Russia, with a broad regional network represented by 130 chambers of commerce and industry in 220 cities across the country. "The Chamber has over 57,000 direct members. Our system includes organizations such as the World Trade Center (WTC), EXPOCENTRE, the International Commercial Arbitration Court, SOYUZPATENT, SOYUZEKSPERTIZA, and other entities providing services to businesses. As for the Southeast Asian region, developing ties with it is one of the priorities of our international activities. The Russia-ASEAN Business Council, as well as six country business councils – with Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar – serve as the backbone of efforts to expand practical ties between entrepreneurs. Since September 2021, the RF CCI regional office in ASEAN countries, headquartered in Jakarta, has been operating. Today, against the backdrop of the new global economic environment, we see that Russian businesses' interest in working with ASEAN partners has grown significantly, which in turn is reflected in trade statistics," emphasized the Chamber Vice-President. According to Vladimir Padalko, the main problem hindering the expansion of business ties remains the lack of up-to-date information on the opportunities in their respective markets among Russian and ASEAN business circles. The Chamber, with its extensive membership base, is ready to facilitate the exchange of business information between entrepreneurs. Another important aspect of this work is expanding regional ties. "Our regional chambers of commerce and industry are ready to work with ASEAN businesses, and the federal CCI will facilitate this as much as possible," he stated. Vadim Chubarov, Vice-President of the Chamber, then spoke at the meeting, presenting the Chamber's legal activities. Specifically, he stated that the Chamber is home to one of the leading arbitration institutions in Russia and the world—the International Commercial Arbitration Court (ICAC), founded in 1932. In terms of the number of international commercial disputes handled annually, the ICAC outstrips leading European arbitration institutions, particularly the London Court of International Arbitration and the Arbitration Court of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. According to Chubarov, even under the current sanctions against Russia, most countries fulfill their obligations under the 1958 New York Convention—a key multilateral international treaty that ensures the enforcement of arbitral awards in more than 170 countries worldwide. Maxim Fateev, CEO of Expocentre JSC, then spoke about his organization's activities in organizing international specialized exhibitions and fairs. He stated that participation in exhibitions gives companies the chance to gain visibility without spending large amounts on advertising and invited Asian diplomats to collaborate.Speakers at the meeting included Boris Stupnitsky, President of the Primorsky Krai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (via Video conference call), Vladimir Platonov, President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Yuri Barzykin, Chairman of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Committee on Tourism Entrepreneurship, Nikolai Volobuyev, Chairman of the Russian-Singapore Business Council, Mikhail Smirnov, President of the Energy Innovative Enterprises Association "EnergoInnovation," Mikhail Kuritsyn, Chairman of the Russian-Indonesian Business Council, Alexey Kravchenko, Executive Director of FESCO Integrated Transport LLC, Vladimir Kovalev, Executive Director of the Russian-Thai Business Council, and Dmitry Antonov, Chairman of the Business Council for Cooperation with Pakistan. In their presentations, the speakers emphasized the prospects for expanding cooperation with the Southeast Asian region in specific sectors, presenting a number of substantive proposals.   At the end of the meeting, Vladimir Padalko thanked the representatives of the diplomatic corps.   By Peter Cheremushkin

On April 1, the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a meeting between representatives of the Russian business community and international high-tech investment expert Errol Musk, father of Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk and South African businessman, politician.The discussion focused on the development of artificial intelligence, energy, space technology, and international cooperation.Before the main discussion, a working meeting was held between President of the Chamber Sergey Katyrin and Errol Musk.Sergey Katyrin noted that the Chamber and the business community are focused on addressing economic challenges and developing business ties. He stated that cooperation with foreign partners continues regardless of the current political climate."Our cooperation with our foreign colleagues continues regardless of whether they are considered friendly or unfriendly countries today. We have repeatedly stated—both in this room and elsewhere—that the Chamber and Russian entrepreneurs strive to maintain relations with all those interested in developing economic ties with Russia," said Sergey Katyrin. Vladimir Padalko, Vice-President of the Chamber, who moderated the meeting, noted the high level of business interest in the meeting and emphasized that the discussion was structured around practical issues. According to him the participants of the meeting included entrepreneurs and experts deeply involved in technological development, investment, and economic transformation.Errol Musk outlined key technological trends, noting the acceleration of progress in space exploration. He also emphasized the key role of energy, including raising the issue of affordable energy for the development of data centers and new technological solutions, and drew attention to the problem of high energy consumption and significant heat generation by such systems.Speaking about artificial intelligence, he noted that interest in this topic has grown sharply, but concerns surrounding it are largely exaggerated. The expert emphasized that AI already significantly improves productivity, allowing tasks to be completed in hours instead of days or weeks, but is not capable of replacing humans, as it relies on accumulated human experience. According to Errol Musk, there will be no mass displacement of workers, as technological change will, as before, lead to the emergence of new professions and forms of employment.The partitpants of discussion were Nikita Dashkin, Director of Special Projects at Baltic Leasing; Valery Kardashov, Chairman of the Expert Council on Investments in Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence Projects; Alexander Grif, Chairman of the CIS Committee on Digital and Technological Sovereignty of the CIS Business Center for Economic Development; Anna Palagina, Rector of the International Institute of Management of Entrepreneurs' Associations; Vladimir Gamza, Chairman of the Chamber's Council for Financial Markets and Investments; Elena Myakotnikova, Chairwoman of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Council for Sustainable Business Development, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Volunteering; and Lidiya Roy, Chairwoman of the Chamber Council for Creative Industries.The meeting addressed topics such as energy supply for artificial intelligence technologies, the implementation of AI in the real sector, personnel training, investment strategies, cybersecurity, the development of new energy sources, as well as the use of digital financial instruments and the regulation of cryptocurrencies.The Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted that such meetings are aimed at developing practical solutions for businesses and developing international professional dialogue in the context of the transformation of the global economy.                                          By Nail Shakhvaliyev,                                          Press Service of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

On March 23, the Chamber hosted a presentation of Sri Lanka's trade, economic and investment opportunities. The presentation, organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow, announced the international multi-sector exhibition Sri Lanka Expo 2026, which will be held in Colombo from June 18 to 21, 2026. In his welcoming remarks, Ilya Nesterov, Director of the Department of External Relations of The Chamber and moderator of the event, noted that Sri Lanka has long been well known in Russia. However, for most Russians, the country is associated primarily with world-famous Ceylon tea and tourism. "The presentation of Sri Lanka Expo 2026 is an excellent opportunity to open up for Russian business a much broader and more multifaceted picture of modern Sri Lanka - an economy with diverse industries, a developed agro-industrial complex, and an interesting modern services sector," he said. The main presentation was delivered by Shobini Gunasekera, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Russia. The head of the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission stressed that, due to its geographical location, Sri Lanka is a strategically important logistics hub in the Indian Ocean and is actively developing its foreign economic ties. According to the Ambassador, an important advantage is Sri Lanka's free trade agreements with key neighboring countries - India, Pakistan, Singapore and Thailand - which allow Russian entrepreneurs to view Sri Lanka as a gateway to the markets of South and Southeast Asia. Sanjeewa Bandara, Trade Counsellor of the Embassy, spoke about the country's economy, the current state and prospects of Russian-Sri Lankan trade and economic cooperation, as well as the participation terms and specific features of Sri Lanka Expo 2026. The main goal of the exhibition is to showcase the diversity of Sri Lanka's industries, products, services and investment opportunities. The exhibition will feature the country's key export-oriented sectors, including light industry, the agro-industrial complex (tea, spices, fish products, processed food and beverages, and coconut-based products), shipbuilding, the automotive industry, electronics, the rubber industry, and pharmaceuticals. Following the presentation, representatives of member companies and organizations of The Chamber system spoke with embassy diplomats about opportunities to establish export-import operations with potential Sri Lankan counterparties.                                                                                        Department of External Relations, Dmitry Bystrov

On March 23-24, Sergey Katyrin, President of The Chamber, conducted a working trip to the Sakhalin Region. He was met at Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport by Galina Dzyuba, President of the Sakhalin Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Alexander Gogolin, Minister of Effective Management of the Sakhalin Region; and representatives of the local authorities.