Sergey Gavrilov: International Cooperation Must Deliver Tangible Results
Participants in the 3rd Russia–Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in Moscow on October 28–29, 2026, are expected to discuss expanding economic cooperation, including in the digital sector, as well as trade ties and investment
The agenda will also cover the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the creation of independent payment systems and food security.
Ahead of the summit, Sergey Gavrilov, chair of the State Duma Committee on Property, Land and Property Relations, spoke to the IT Russia media platform about the practical goals of Russia–Africa cooperation, the development of the digital economy and the creation of joint manufacturing facilities.
– International cooperation must deliver tangible results: new businesses, jobs, modern roads, technology projects, and opportunities for education and professional development. These are the kinds of outcomes that should shape relations between countries. Today, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, scientific and technological cooperation, and workforce training are especially important. Ahead of the Russia–Africa Summit, these issues take on added significance: both sides are interested in a partnership that delivers measurable benefits.
Technological development is impossible without infrastructure of our own and a willingness to put new approaches into practice. Take the financial sector: the shift to digital payments presents governments with new challenges. The technological and organizational issues need to be addressed in advance, software must be developed, and specialists must be trained. Without that groundwork, digital tools will not reach their full potential.
It is equally important to create the conditions for manufacturing and joint projects to grow. Amid external restrictions, this is a path toward greater economic independence: less reliance on decisions made elsewhere and more opportunities to develop domestic industry. The same approach applies to cooperation with African countries, through joint production and projects in which both sides draw on their own capabilities.
That is why the agreements reached at the summit should lay the groundwork for practical work on infrastructure development, the adoption of digital technologies, scientific and technological exchanges, and specialist training. The focus must be on work that serves the interests of all participants.
