"From points on the map to points of growth" - The Organizing Committee has determined the dates of KazanForum 2026
The first meeting of the Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding of the XVII International Economic Forum "Russia – the Islamic World: KazanForum" was held in Moscow, where the dates of its holding were determined. The event will be held in Kazan on May 14-15, 2026.
The meeting of the Organizing Committee was held by Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Organizing Committee Marat Khusnullin. The event was attended by Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan, as well as representatives of federal ministries and departments.
Marat Khusnullin recalled that 8.5 thousand representatives of 96 states and 82 regions of Russia took part in the KazanForum 2025 business program.
"KazanForum has once again confirmed its status as an important platform that strengthens partnership between Russia and the countries of the Islamic world. Our dialogue is based on common interests and deep mutual respect. I am confident that the Kazan Forum will continue to be the bridge that contributes to Russia's even greater rapprochement with Muslim states," the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.
Rustam Minnikhanov, Chairman of the Regional Organizing Committee, Chairman of the Russia–Islamic World Strategic Vision Group, Deputy Chairman of the Organizing Committee, summed up the results of this year's forum: over 200 events, 148 sessions with 990 speakers, 130 agreements were signed, and 500 media outlets from 20 countries covered the event.
Among the key results are the growth of the halal financial products market, an increase in trade turnover with the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the opening of the office of the International Organization for Islamic Finance Standards AAOIFI in Kazan. Such areas as the international exhibition of cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world and the unique real estate platform International Property Market also continue to develop successfully.
One of the significant events was the Plenary Session of the OIC Ministers of Culture "Dialogue of Cultures – the basis for preserving identity and diversity in a multipolar world." It was attended by representatives of 17 Member States to discuss topical issues of cultural identity and interaction in the context of globalization.
At the XIII Conference of the OIC Ministers of Culture in Saudi Arabia, it was decided to designate Kazan as the cultural capital of the Islamic world.
"I would like to emphasize that the upcoming KazanForum-2026 will be held as part of a landmark event - Kazan receiving the status of the cultural capital of the Islamic world. This decision highlights the importance of the city as a center of Islamic culture and heritage, as well as its role in intercultural dialogue. We believe that this important event should definitely be reflected in the KazanForum agenda and the meeting of the Russia–Islamic World Strategic Vision Group. The topic of the forum's plenary session is: "From points on the map to points of growth is the unification of technological and financial initiatives," said Rustam Minnikhanov.
The Rais of Tatarstan proposed to hold KazanForum 2026 on May 14-15, 2026. Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of Russia, Deputy Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Executive Secretary, supported the proposal.
"In the context of ongoing geopolitical changes and the growth of Russia's foreign trade, maintaining and strengthening stable partnerships is key to the transformation of the Russian economy. The forum is intended to become a platform for increasing cooperation between Russia and Islamic countries. The participants are particularly interested in the bilateral sessions devoted to the development of inter-country relations on a wide range of issues. It is important to continue to strengthen this dialogue by offering relevant topics for discussion at the business and cultural events of the forum," emphasized Anton Kobyakov.
He also noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet with Arab leaders in October 2025. As a result of these negotiations, the basis for the organization of business missions of the Kazan Forum to the countries of the Arab region will be built. The main task is to present real opportunities for investments and joint projects, to identify priority areas of cooperation. The results of the business missions will form the basis for the formation of the substantive part of the discussions of the KazanForum business program in 2026.
Taliya Minullina, Head of the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency, Secretary of the Republican Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding of the annual International Economic Forum "Russia - the Islamic World: KazanForum", noted that following the results of this year's event, the halal financial products market was growing, the number of participants in the National Bank's experiment on partner financing increased, and trade turnover with the OIC countries increased significantly.
"Dear colleagues, KazanForum makes a significant contribution to the development of trade and economic relations between Russia and the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Over the past 5 years, the turnover of goods has increased by 2 times, and services by 4 times. The selfless and painstaking work of all the participants of the organizing committee will allow us to prepare the next KazanForum at a fundamentally new qualitative level," Taliya Minullina said.
The International Economic Forum "Russia - the Islamic World: KazanForum" has been held in Kazan annually since 2009. The key objective of the event is the development of economic, trade, socio-cultural relations between Russia and the Islamic states. The Roscongress Foundation is the operator for the preparation and holding of the event.