During his address at the Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg, Putin expressed his belief that Russia contributes significantly to global food security and is a reliable, “responsible international supplier of agricultural products.” The Russian president went on to claim that Moscow controls 20% of the global wheat market, whereas Kyiv controls less than 5%.
On Thursday, the Summit between Putin and African leaders began in St. Petersburg, with significantly smaller participation than in previous years.
The two-day Russia–Africa Summit that kicked off today is the highest-profile and largest-scale event in Russian African relations, aimed at bringing about a fundamentally new level of mutually beneficial partnership to meet the challenges of the 21st century. pic.twitter.com/MZVX0vZvR2
— Government of Uganda (@GovUganda) July 27, 2023
On Grain Deal Withdrawal
The Russian president spoke during the opening session of the Summit, discussing the halted Black Sea grain deal; he pledged large no-cost grain shipments to six African countries and also touched on several other topics of mutual interest.
Putin asserted that the grain deal fulfilled none of the prerequisites for easing sanctions against Russian grain and fertiliser shipments to global markets. “Not a single one of them. We even faced obstacles when delivering mineral fertilisers to the poorest countries that need them for free.”
The Russian leader clarified that the withdrawal from the grain agreement was due to Russian exports being blocked by European ports. He revealed that the country could only transfer 20,000 tonnes to Malawi and 34,000 tonnes to Kenya out of the 262,000 tonnes blocked in European ports.
Putin asserted that Russia could quickly fill the void left by its withdrawal from the grain deal by either directly selling its grain or providing it for free to most impoverished countries in Africa. Specifically, he announced that a “supply of 25,000–50,000 tonnes of grain each to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic and Eritrea, [would be] delivered at no cost.”
“Our country will continue supporting needy states and regions, particularly with its humanitarian deliveries. We seek to actively participate in building a fairer system of distribution of resources. We are taking maximum efforts to avert a global food crisis,” he remarked.
Moscow is ready to support the poorest African countries and deliver them grain for free, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the plenary session at the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg.https://t.co/QYRvsZkTth pic.twitter.com/kghlno3GmZ
— RT (@RT_com) July 27, 2023
On Agricultural Technology
During the Summit, Putin believed that by implementing proper agricultural technology and organising agricultural output correctly, Africa could not only feed itself and ensure its food security in the long term, but also become a food exporter of various types of food.
He promised that Russia would be willing to share its agricultural production expertise with African countries and assist in implementing advanced technologies.
On Energy Sector
The Russian president recalled that, for many years, Soviet and Russian experts have been involved in the planning and building significant power-generating facilities in Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, and other African nations.
He noted that more than 30 prospective energy projects with Russian assistance are now in various stages of development in 16 African nations. The overall capacity of energy projects currently under construction is around 3.7 GW.
Putin also mentioned that Russian crude oil, oil products, and liquefied natural gas shipments to Africa have increased 2.6-fold in the last two years.
Additionally, he highlighted that Rosatom, Russia’s leading nuclear energy company, is developing the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt. “This state corporation can share its unique expertise with African countries, as well as unparalleled technologies in non-energy peaceful use of atoms, such as in healthcare and agriculture,” he underscored.
President Putin during the Russia- Africa Summit🗣️: Africa’s potential is obvious to everyone. Africa’s population is growing faster than anywhere else in the world. The middle class, which creates the principal demand for modern goods and services, is growing faster in Africa. pic.twitter.com/FjK7IcVYAe
— State House Uganda (@StateHouseUg) July 27, 2023
On Industry and Trade
Putin underlined that it is critical to expand Russia-Africa industrial cooperation. He indicated that Russian industrial items, such as vehicles and construction equipment, are well-known and in great demand all over the continent.
He further revealed that Russia expects to establish a Russian industrial zone in Egypt’s Suez Canal region soon; development of the first production facilities will begin this year, and commodities manufactured there will be sold throughout Africa.
According to the Russian leader, the International North-South Transport Corridor will allow Russian commodities to be delivered to Africa more effectively. “Naturally, this corridor can also be used in the opposite direction — to supply African goods to the Russian market.”
On Currency and Cross-border Payments
Putin urged that national currencies, including the Russian ruble, should be used more frequently in the financial settlement of business transactions.
He said that Russia is prepared to assist African countries in developing their financial infrastructure and connecting their banking establishments to the Russian Financial Messaging System, “which can be used to make cross-border payments independently of some Western systems that are adopting restrictions.”
On Education and Training of Skilled Personnel
The Russian president declared that skill training has always been and continues to be a traditional sector of Russia-Africa cooperation.
Nearly 35,000 African students are already enrolled in Russian universities, and “this number is growing every year,” Putin remarked. “The quota for the education of Africans at the expense of the federal budget has increased by two and a half times in three years, and for the next academic year will amount to more than 4,700 people.”
Putin mentioned that Russia intends to establish African branches of major Russian universities. “Close cooperation with African educational institutions will also be established within the framework of the Russian-African Network University.”
He also announced plans to establish Russian-language schools in African countries. “The implementation of such Russian language projects, and the introduction of our country’s high educational standards, will be the best foundation for further mutually beneficial and equal cooperation,” he stated.
In concluding remarks, Putin highlighted that Russia is committed to promoting all-round development and deepening trade, economic, and humanitarian cooperation with all African countries.