Ivan Makushok: Technological Independence Is Becoming the Foundation for Equal Partnership with Africa
The 3rd Russia–Africa Summit will take place in Moscow on October 28–29, 2026. Its key objective is to expand economic cooperation, trade and investment.
The agenda will also cover the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the creation of independent payment systems, food security, digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
Ahead of the summit, Ivan Makushok, vice president of AFK Sistema, spoke to the IT Russia media platform about how domestic technology development can strengthen Russia’s economic independence, the prospects for joint investment projects in Africa, and the shift from exporting products to building industrial partnerships.
– Technological independence is no longer just a domestic concern for individual countries. This will be one of the issues discussed at the Russia–Africa Summit. For Russia, it means developing its own expertise and products. It is also essential for building partnerships on equal terms. At AFK Sistema, the parent company’s role is to set strategy and support long-term business growth, rather than make one-off sales.
A case in point is the development of electronic navigation charts within a Russian corporate group, without relying on foreign contractors or technology. The achievement itself matters, but so does the principle behind it: managing every stage of development and production reduces reliance on outside suppliers in critical sectors. The company follows the same approach in its international partnerships, with Africa a priority.
This includes joint investment in pharmaceutical projects in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The company is following an approach outlined by its board chairman, Vladimir Yevtushenkov: investing in its own research and development rather than making copies of existing products. For African countries, this creates opportunities to develop local manufacturing and build technological expertise instead of simply serving as markets for imported goods.
This is how the summit’s priorities – digitalization, technological sovereignty, technology transfer and industrial cooperation – can translate into concrete projects. Work on geospatial data and the local production of medicines both illustrate a shift from supplying products to developing them together. Amid external restrictions, the ability to maintain operations and meet commitments to customers is not just a slogan. It is a real measure of a successful partnership. The key is for joint projects to deliver tangible results.
