PM To Deliver Keynote Address At ASEAN-Russia Business Forum In Kazan

KAZAN, Russia: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the ASEAN-Russia Business Forum here today, as part of the programme held in conjunction with the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit.

He will join the forum taking place at the Kazan IT Park and will be received by the Minister of Digital Development, Public Administration, Information Technology and Communications of the Republic of Tatarstan, Ilya Nachvin.

Anwar, who is also the Minister of Finance, will deliver his speech before business representatives and officials from ASEAN member states and Russia.

Later, he will attend the Gala Dinner of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit at the Tatar State Academic Theater, which will also be the venue for him to pay a courtesy call on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Malaysia is participating in the commemorative summit as part of ASEAN’s engagement with Russia.

The ASEAN-Russia Summit is the highest-level engagement platform between ASEAN and Russia, reflecting a cooperative relationship that has grown significantly since the establishment of dialogue relations in 1991.

Russia became a Full Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 1996, and the relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2018, thereby highlighting both parties’ commitment to expanding cooperation in the political-security, economic, and socio-cultural fields.

Kazan, The Capital City Of The Republic Of Tatarstan

Meanwhile, this year’s summit in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, is highly significant as it coincides with the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia dialogue relations.

Located at the confluence of the Volga River and the Kazanka River in the European part of Russia, approximately 800 kilometres east of Moscow, the city has a population of about 1.3 million residents and is often referred to as Russia’s “third capital” after Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

The city has a history spanning more than 1,000 years and is widely recognised as among the most important cultural and Islamic heritage centres in the country.

Kazan also serves as a bridge connecting Russia with the Islamic world, making it a suitable location for discussions involving ASEAN and Russia.

In 2024, ASEAN-Russia total trade reached US$18.1 billion, while Russia’s foreign direct investment (FDI) in ASEAN was recorded at RM367.90 million (US$92.97 million).

For Malaysia, Russia was the country’s ninth-largest trading partner among European nations in 2025, with total trade valued at RM8.72 billion (US$2.04 billion).

Malaysia’s main exports to Russia include electrical and electronic products, machinery, equipment and spare parts, as well as processed food products. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s main imports from Russia comprise petroleum products, minerals, chemicals and chemical-based products.

Bernama