Russia and the UAE: experts discussed ways to develop trade and economic cooperation between the countries
Russian-Emirates cooperation is at the top of the foreign trade agenda. “Russia — UAE. Bridges of New Opportunities" session became one of the central discussions at the "Made in Russia" International Export Forum, which was held at the National Centre RUSSIA. There, business, government and expert communities’ representatives exchanged experiences and outlined new areas of cooperation. The Forum was organised by the Russian Export Centre (REC, VEB Group).
The session participants talked about new formats of interaction between the countries, the development of bilateral trade, investment partnership, and humanitarian aspects of cooperation.
Najibullo Jabbori, moderator, the REC representative in the UAE, emphasized the status of the United Arab Emirates as one of the most open, technologically oriented, and investment-attractive centres in the region.
"The UAE remains the main hub for trade, logistics and investment in the region. Russian companies are more and more closely considering the Emirati market not only as a point of sale, but also as a strategic centre for international development. Our goal is to create a sustainable platform where businesses feel confident and see long-term prospects," said Najibullo Jabbori.
Cultural interaction plays a special role in creating a stable platform of trust between Russia and the UAE, said Mufti Rushan Abbyasov, Deputy Chairman of the Muslim Spiritual Board of the Russian Federation. He noted that Russia and the UAE share common commitment to spiritual and moral values, the institution of the traditional family, tolerance and good neighbourliness. This creates a favorable atmosphere for building not only humanitarian, but also trade and economic bridges.
"By developing our horizontal ties via bilateral tourism, mutual acquaintance with the culture and heritage of our peoples, saturating the agenda of cooperation, holding various festivals, events, meetings and forums, we are shaping an ecosystem of trust that stimulates the export of Russian goods, services and technologies to the Gulf countries, and most importantly, is positively viewed by a fairly traditional Arab society in the region. At the same time, it is necessary to move from one-time initiatives to institutionalized formats of permanent interaction: interdepartmental working groups, bilateral centres and platforms for cultural, public, youth, sports and, no less importantly, spiritual diplomacy," he said.
Mohamed Kamil Al-Muayni, President of the Global Centre for Cultural Communication (GCCC), spoke about the role of business and private investment in the development of Russian-Emirati relations. He stressed that the Emirati side is interested in Russian innovations, especially in the fields of energy, smart cities, industry and agriculture: "We see great potential for joint technological and production projects. Russian companies have a serious engineering school, and the Emirates has resources, infrastructure, and investments. It's a strong combination."
Yevgeny Yelemesov, Head of the Russian Representative Office of the Dubai Chambers, noted that Russian companies are strengthening their positions in the UAE market due to their quality, innovative approaches, and attention to local culture.
"Today, the "Made in Russia" brand is becoming more and more recognizable in the Emirates. This is the result of systematic work to promote Russian goods and technologies, as well as trust, which is built through an open dialogue between the countries," he stressed.
Nikolai Konstantinov, Head of Export Development and Cooperation with Government Agencies at the Fitocosmetic company, shared the company's successful experience in the UAE market. He stressed the effectiveness of government export support tools that help entrepreneurs at every step, from choosing a market and finding a partner to insuring supplies.
Irina Bykhovskaya, Partner at the B1 company, focused on corporate governance, compliance, and financial aspects of Russian companies entering the UAE market. According to her, the structural changes in the UAE business climate make this market particularly attractive to Russian companies: "Today, the UAE provides Russian businesses with flexible and transparent business mechanisms. A well-built legal and tax strategy is the key to success for any exporter or investor."
Alexei Sapozhnikov, Director General of the Sapozhnikov & Partners company, elaborated on the legal regimes of Russia and the UAE. They are already becoming more and more harmonized, and new mechanisms keep on emerging to ensure the protection of investors' interests and the sustainability of long-term projects.
Andrei Shket, representative of the Skolkovo Foundation, spoke about the opportunities for technology startups from the Russian side's perspective. For high-tech companies, the Emirates is not only a sales market, but also a place for joint research and pilot projects.
The "Made in Russia" International Export Forum is the main event of the year for domestic exporters. The Forum is organised by the Russian Export Centre (REC, VEB Group). The partners of the business programme are the Moscow Government and the Moscow Export Centre. The general information partner is TASS. The exclusive information partner is RIA Novosti. Information partners: Channel One, Russia24, MAER media holding, Vedomosti, Expert.Media", "Gazprom-Media Holding", "Insight People". The Roscongress Foundation is the operator of the Forum's business programme.
The Russian Export Centre (REC, VEB Group) is a government institution that supports non-primary non-energy exports. It provides companies from various industries with both financial and non-financial assistance at all stages of entering international markets, by itself and within the framework of the "International Cooperation and Export" national project. Most of the services offered by the REC Group are available online on the "My Export" state digital platform. The REC is also majorly responsible for ensuring and implementing the "Made in Russia" programme.
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