As part of his working visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Rustam Minnikhanov, the Rais of Tatarstan and Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia–Islamic World", focused his efforts in Riyadh on a robust economic agenda.
The international industrial forum "INNOPROM. Saudi Arabia" served as the primary stage for showcasing the potential for deep-seated cooperation. In Riyadh, Minnikhanov’s leadership of the Group moved beyond diplomacy into practical application, specifically through the promotion of financial and investment initiatives. Addressing the plenary session, he spoke directly to the business community to outline a vision for industrial synergy.
"We see immense potential for expanding our cooperation in sectors such as energy, mechanical engineering, and agriculture," stated the Rais of Tatarstan, establishing a clear trajectory for future industrial partnerships.
A significant portion of Minnikhanov’s address focused on specialized financial mechanisms. He presented Tatarstan as Russia’s leading pilot region for Islamic banking, highlighting the strategic importance of the newly opened Kazan office of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI).
"I invite the colleagues gathered here to launch joint projects in Tatarstan utilizing Islamic finance frameworks," he proposed, marking one of the defining moments of his speech.
This diplomatic mission was further strengthened by a series of high-level bilateral meetings. During a discussion with Prince Naif Al Saud, a prominent figure in the Kingdom's business elite, Minnikhanov offered a candid assessment of the current commercial landscape.
"While trade turnover between Tatarstan and Saudi Arabia has grown steadily in recent years, it remains quite modest for the time being," noted the Rais. "We have every opportunity to significantly expand our trade, economic, and investment cooperation."
He further underscored the republic's desire to learn from the Saudi experience, particularly concerning "the development of a green economy and digitalization" as part of the Kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030 strategy.
The visit also addressed the role of sports as a bridge for international relations. In a meeting with Nasser Majali, Secretary General of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA), Minnikhanov discussed the prospect of new multi-sport collaborations.
"In recent years, we have successfully hosted a series of major events, including the Games of the Future and the BRICS Games," Minnikhanov remarked. He expressed a specific interest in bringing the OIC Youth Games to Kazan. "The infrastructure currently in place in Kazan is capable of hosting any sporting event, including the Islamic Solidarity Games."
Rustam Minnikhanov’s visit to Riyadh illustrated how his role as Chairman of the Group translates into tangible economic proposals. This pragmatic approach shifts the dialogue between Russia and the Islamic world from general concepts to concrete projects in industry, finance, and green technology, with Tatarstan serving as a vital gateway and a primary pilot region.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the Rais RT
Based on materials from the press service of the Rais RT