Matryoshka dolls and Dymkovo toys: what impressed international delegations at the Department Store of the National Centre RUSSIA during INNOPROM 2025

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On July 9, official delegations from Saudi Arabia, the Central African Republic, and Zimbabwe visited the stand of the Department Store of the National Centre RUSSIA at the international industrial exposition INNOPROM 2025. The high-level guests were introduced to the concept of the project, which showcases a unique collection of goods from regional brands.

During the guided tour, the delegations were presented with the Department Store as a space where each item tells its own story – about the craftsmen who carefully preserve traditions, about regions with their unique identity, and about the modern interpretation of Russia’s cultural legacy. The guests closely examined the traditional crafts and trades, elegant accessories, natural cosmetics, and regional gastronomic products on display. 

The delegation from Saudi Arabia, which included the Deputy Minister of Energy and other representatives of the country’s economic sector, showed particular interest. The traditional Russian matryoshka dolls and Dymkovo toys made a strong impression on the Arab guests. 

As previously reported, on the same day representatives of the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia invited the Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, Natalia Virtuozova, to present the Department Store exposition at INNOPROM 2026 in Riyadh. This proposal came as a response to the successful presentation of products from more than 100 Russian manufacturers representing 46 regions of the country. 

The Department Store project, launched in November 2024, has already brought together more than 160 manufacturers from 60 Russian regions. Upcoming plans include opening new branches in Vladivostok, Sevastopol, Krasnoyarsk, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra, and the Ryazan region to expand the presence of Russian goods on both domestic and international markets. 

The international industrial exposition INNOPROM 2025 is taking place in Yekaterinburg from July 7 to 10 with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Sverdlovsk Region.