By INS Contributors

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: The International Economic Forum "Russia – the Islamic World: KazanForum" celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

During this time, it has become the world's leading platform for discussing cooperation issues and implementing joint projects in line with urgent tasks to strengthen trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural ties between Russia and the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). 

As Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, noted on 6 April at the meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions of the OIC countries accredited in Moscow, visible results have been achieved over the years of the Forum. 

A confidential dialogue has been established on topical issues on the international agenda, including the situation in the Middle East, which requires special attention now. And such annual contacts confirm the convergence or closeness of approaches between Russia and Muslim countries on a wide range of global and regional issues. 

For our partners, in the context of global geo-economic transformation, market volatility and instability of trade and logistics chains, KazanForum has become a practical tool for comfortable entry into the Russian market. Last year, the Forum brought together delegations from 96 countries and 82 Russian regions, with more than 900 international media representatives. 

This was a confirmation of the successful implementation of the strategic mission to turn the Forum into an exchange of real contacts and a tool for implementing projects in key areas of interstate cooperation, including transport corridors, infrastructure construction and technological cooperation.

The Malaysian vector

In recent years, amid the intensification of bilateral relations, which have received a noticeable boost following the visits to Russia of YAB Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, and His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, the number of Malaysians coming to KazanForum has increased significantly. In 2025, the national delegation exceeded 130 people (in 2023, about 50). The Honourable Anwar Ibrahim’s participation in the Forum and his substantive dialogue with the leadership of Tatarstan emphasized high status and strategic nature of partnership, and became a signal for major business: it's time to move on towards practical steps. 

The Head of the Republic of Tatarstan, R.Minnikhanov, speaking about the importance of KazanForum, stressed that "today the Forum unites representatives of states, business, science and public organizations, creating conditions for discussing topical issues of international partnership. 

Tatarstan, which has connected East and West for centuries, remains a reliable partner, ready to share its experience and develop new formats of cooperation". The authorities of Tatarstan name the following areas flagship in promoting Russian-Malaysian cooperation.

Agro-trading and logistics. The example of Pacific Inter-Link Sdn Bhd is illustrative. It is not just a trader, but a giant with terminals in Africa and processing in Turkey, operating since 1988. The management of the company held a series of negotiations with agricultural enterprises of Tatarstan, showing substantive interest in dairy and grain products. 

For Russia, this is access to the global supply chain of Pacific Inter-Link, for Malaysia – food security. 

Halal certification. Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM), one of the world's most respected regulators in the field of halal, has officially accredited the Halal Standard Committee of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan. This opens a "green corridor" for the export of Russian products to Muslim countries.

Technological transfer. Signing of a memorandum between Tatarstan's IT Park and Malaysia's VeecoTech Solutions Sdn. Bhd. It opens ways for joint developments in the field of AI and cybersecurity. This is the direct access of Malaysian IT companies to the huge Russian digitalization market. 

Small and medium-sized enterprises and urban planning. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Association of Malaysia has consolidated ties with the Russian Agency for Strategic Initiatives, which provides Malaysian small businesses with clear rules of the game and infrastructure for localization. 

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who in his keynote speech at a meeting of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group in May 2025 in Kazan, stressed that Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, "called on Malaysia to actively support the KazanForum, which aims at development, peace, economic sustainability and inclusivity." 

Our countries, sharing common and immutable principles of equality, consideration of national interests and mutual respect, are ready to act as allies, partners and close friends in solving these important tasks.