At the forum, the Mordovian delegation held a series of meetings with representatives of the countries of the African continent. Thus, in the talks held on the first day with Lotfi Bouaraara, general director of the Algerian state agricultural company Global Agri Food Spa, the head of the Republic of Moldova, Artem Zdunov, presented the possibilities of the republic as one of the leading companies Russian materials for the development of agricultural production. The share of agriculture in the gross regional product of Mordovia is 2.5 times higher than the average in the Russian Federation. Every fifth economically active resident of the republic works in the fields. In terms of production of the main types of agricultural products per capita, Mordovia is one of the leading regions.
Cooperation issues were also discussed in the meeting with the president of Labacorp (LGC) of Cameroon Baka Ambianda. This investment company has interests in industry, agriculture, energy, real estate and finance. During negotiations with representatives of states such as Burundi, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Bahrain, directions for future cooperation were outlined.
In his speech at the forum’s plenary session, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid special attention to Russian-African industrial cooperation. Today, more than half of Russia’s supplies to Africa are machinery and equipment, chemicals, and food.
– Mordovia plans to expand cooperation with African countries: our car builders, lighting engineers and farmers are ready to increase the export of their products. We will guide our industry towards the implementation of the instructions of the president, – said Artem Zdunov. – The representatives from Africa are interested in cable, fiber optic products, drugs and medicines, as well as food.
Regarding cooperation in the humanitarian field, the African partners were interested in the republic’s proposals in the field of education. So, on the second day of the forum, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Mordovian State Pedagogical University. Evseviev and the Tunisian-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This applies to such areas as the support and promotion of the Russian language abroad, as well as the promotion of Russian culture in the Republic of Tunisia and Tunisian culture in the Russian Federation. In addition, the parties will promote education in the Russian Federation, promote inter-university cooperation in student exchange, improve teacher qualifications and develop educational programs. The general plans also include support for talented youth, the launch of scientific, educational and cultural projects and the holding of joint events.
It should be noted that now in 15 lyceums in Tunisia, children study Russian language and literature. On the site of the Russian House in Tunisia, the Center for Open Education of the Moscow State Pedagogical University. Evsevyeva. The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. It is planned that from September the professors of the University of Mordovia will begin to teach the Russian language to the whole world.
And at a meeting with the Orthodox clergy of Africa, an agreement was reached to hold a major international Orthodox forum in Mordovia with the participation of African countries.