By Sibel Morrow and Zeynep Beyza Kilic
KAZAN, Tatarstan (AA) - Russia Halal Expo 2023 on Thursday opened its doors to visitors on the sidelines of the 14th International Economic Summit: Russia-Islamic World: Kazan Forum 2023.
Expected to garner more than 7,000 visitors, the expo features halal products and services with an aim to promote the halal industry in Russia, improve commercial, economic, and social relations between Russia and participating Muslim countries and give trading partners a chance to showcase their goods.
“Our slogan is trust and cooperation that has become the pivotal factor in the development of relations between Russia and Muslim countries not only in the economic sphere but also in the diversity of all cooperation projects that truly manifest our strategic partnership,” Marat Khusnullin, Russia’s deputy prime minister, said in his keynote speech.
Khusnullin, who is also chairman of the Organizing Committee of the International Economic Forum, said the high attendance “confirms that Russia and the Islamic states are bound by strong ties of friendship and mutual respect.”
He said the trade between Russia and the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has grown by almost 30% over the past three years in line with the strengthening ties between countries taking part in the Kazan Forum.
Rustam Minnikhanov, head of the Republic of Tatarstan, on his part, hailed the diversity and high number of participants at the event, describing it as “a true success story.”