Despite Western pressure, Africa is ready to work in the Russian economic field

During an interview with Sputnik, the president of Afrocom indicated that Russia-Africa cooperation should not stop at the current level, especially since the successes achieved have created “the basis for the next breakthrough which will undoubtedly take place after the forum in St. Petersburg”.

Sergey Lavrov said on April 4 that the West is making every effort to prevent African countries from participating in the Russia-Africa summit next July. Despite this, the African business community is ready to work in the Russian economic sphere. This is what Igor Morozov, Chairman of the Russian Coordinating Committee for Economic Cooperation with African Countries (Afrocom), told Sputnik on April 5 at the International African Congress being held in Moscow on April 5-6.

“I see that African companies are ready to work in the Russian economic field, to welcome Russian businessmen, not only in free trade zones, but also in sectors of the economy that are considered the more conducive to investment,” he said, noting that he “also sees no fear in the African political class.”

He also recalled the Russia-Africa conference, which was held on March 19-20 in Moscow. The vast majority of African parliamentarians came

“They understood that Russia is at war with NATO, that today the United States, by violating all international rules, international law, is destroying the bases of international cooperation that have been created over the last 70 years. Our African partners also understand this”.

Interaction in the economic sphere

And, according to the president of Afrocom, this Russia-Africa cooperation should not stop at the level already reached:

“The potential of the Russian economy, especially the regional economy, is very efficient, very innovative, very competitive, it is so huge that it does not correspond to the level of interaction, and above all, to the number of foreign trade affairs which will be fixed in view of this summit and which the Russian President will announce in his speech”, he explained.

Therefore, the successes already achieved as well as the work carried out by Afrocom and other economic public organizations over the past three years have laid “the basis for the next breakthrough, which will undoubtedly take place after the Russia-Africa forum in Saint- Petersburg”.

Payments in national currencies

Moreover, while Russia already has settlements in national currencies with a number of countries, he estimated that starting this year, the Russian central bank would work with a large number of central banks in Africa.

According to him, the mentioned parties will come to a certain format of compensation, which will make it possible to make payments and create this formula of balance between the national currency of one or another African country and the Russian ruble.

Africans also hope for a partnership with Moscow, and in this sense, Mr. Morozov evoked a harmonious and mutually beneficial formula.

“We are going to Africa not only with advanced technologies that have been developed and tested in Asian markets, but also with digital platforms that will allow Russia to break through and Moscow to be considered the best city in the world for digital services and living comfort”.