In an interview with Ahram Online, Alexander Stuglev, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Roscongress Foundation, explains why Cairo is no longer merely a venue for dialogue but a central co-author shaping the future of Russia–Africa cooperation ahead of the 2026 summit.
Ahram Online (AO): The Second Ministerial Conference in Cairo is widely seen as a milestone in strengthening Russia–Africa relations. How important is Egypt’s role—not only as host, but as a strategic partner shaping the cooperation agenda?
Alexander Stuglev: The Ministerial Conference in Cairo is a key stage in preparing for the Third Russia–Africa Partnership Forum in 2026. The previous summits in Sochi in 2019 and St. Petersburg in 2023 resulted in concrete outcomes, including the adoption of the Action Plan up to 2026 and the launch of the ministerial format now being implemented.
Africa is increasingly asserting itself as a major global political and economic actor. Multilateral cooperation is expanding, and the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum plays a central role in this process.
Egypt’s role extends well beyond hosting the conference. The choice of Cairo is deeply symbolic. Egypt is a strategic partner of Russia and one of the key advocates of African interests internationally. Its engagement strengthens the overall architecture of Russia’s multilateral cooperation with the continent.
Thanks to its geographic position and regional and global influence, Egypt plays an active role in aligning joint initiatives, facilitating business cooperation, and promoting cultural exchange. This enables Russia and African countries to combine their potential in the pursuit of sustainable development and regional stability.
AO: How does the Roscongress Foundation support cooperation between Russian and Egyptian businesses?
AS: The Roscongress Foundation creates practical platforms where businesses can establish direct contacts, identify partners, and launch joint projects. Egypt is an active participant in this ecosystem. In 2022, Egypt was the guest country at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), and Egyptian delegations have since remained regular participants in our major events.
Platforms such as SPIEF, the Eastern Economic Forum, and Russian Energy Week focus on concrete projects. Roscongress has developed a broad portfolio of sector-specific platforms tailored to the needs of different industries.
Through Roscongress International, we support dialogue on trade, investment, and cultural cooperation, including joint projects with Egyptian partners. Our Innovation Space showcases advanced Russian technologies, while initiatives such as the “Healthy Life” ecosystem and the Russian Pharmaceutical Forum bring together government and business representatives to conclude practical agreements.
Urban Hub focuses on sustainable urban development, green infrastructure, transport, and smart-city solutions. For Egyptian companies, it offers opportunities to find partners and present projects requiring international cooperation.
In 2026, St. Petersburg will host the First International Transport and Logistics Forum. For Egypt, as a global logistics hub, this will provide a practical platform for dialogue on shipping, ports, aviation, and multimodal transport.
Tourism is another important area. In 2024, 1.4 million Russian tourists visited Egypt, a 15 percent year-on-year increase. Our “Let’s Travel!” International Tourism Forum supports discussions on expanding routes, charter programmes, and joint cultural initiatives.
AO: What tangible outcomes does Roscongress expect from the Cairo conference, particularly in trade and investment?
AS: Ministerial conferences are designed to ensure the implementation of summit-level decisions. Following the 2023 St. Petersburg Summit, the Russia–Africa Action Plan for 2023–2026 was adopted, covering more than 180 measures across trade, energy, security, education, and culture.
The Cairo conference focuses on assessing progress since the first ministerial meeting and identifying areas where cooperation can be accelerated. Trade, investment, and industrial cooperation are central to the agenda.
For Roscongress, results mean concrete agreements, clearly defined roadmaps, and projects ready for implementation. The conference is expected to generate proposals that help unlock the still underutilized economic potential between Russia and African countries and ensure high-quality preparation for the 2026 forum.
AO: What are the Roscongress Foundation’s strategic plans for cooperation with Egyptian partners?
AS: We pursue systematic cooperation with Egypt and already have experience organizing joint events both in Russia and in Egypt. The Cairo conference once again confirms Egypt’s status as one of our most important strategic and economic partners.
Building on this dialogue, we see strong potential in establishing a trilateral cooperation platform based in Egypt. Through regular forums, sectoral conferences, and business missions, this platform could translate ideas into joint ventures involving Russia, Egypt, and other African countries.
AO: How does Roscongress envision its long-term partnership with Africa?
AS: Our strategy is to build sustainable, long-term partnerships that deliver tangible results. We work with 28 permanent partners from 19 African countries, including leading business associations and chambers of commerce.
A priority is the creation of an annual Russia–Africa programme of events—not a series of isolated meetings, but a unified cooperation ecosystem. One of our key tools is the RC-Investments platform, which connects more than 150,000 participants from 209 countries.
Humanitarian cooperation is equally important. Egypt leads African countries in educational cooperation with Russia, with nearly 16,000 Egyptian students enrolled in Russian universities in 2023. We aim to expand this through joint programmes, applied research, and university partnerships.
AO: Which best practices from major Russian forums are applied in Cairo?
AS: We apply an approach refined at world-class forums, based on participant feedback, efficient logistics, and advanced digital communication platforms.
At SPIEF 2025, more than 24,000 participants from 144 countries attended, with agreements worth nearly RUB 6.5 trillion signed. These forums do more than gather delegations—they shape agendas, formalize cooperation, and refine ongoing projects. The same practical methodology is being applied in Cairo.
AO: What steps will ensure continued cooperation after the conference?
AS: First, all proposals raised in Cairo are documented, structured by sector, and aligned with the Action Plan. Second, they are further developed through Roscongress platforms such as SPIEF, the Eastern Economic Forum, and Russian Energy Week.
Third, we rely on our infrastructure, including Roscongress International and RC-Investments, which have supported projects exceeding $20 billion. All this work feeds directly into preparations for the Third Russia–Africa Partnership Forum in 2026.
AO: What message would you like to convey to African business leaders?
AS: Our message is openness to practical, long-term cooperation. The institutional framework is already in place; now it must be filled with concrete initiatives.
Egypt’s accession to BRICS in 2024 and its active participation in joint projects—from industry to energy and education—demonstrate what is possible. We invite African governments, companies, and universities to actively engage with Roscongress platforms and move from dialogue to implementation.
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