In Kazan, on the sidelines of the Russia–Islamic World International Economic Forum: KazanForum, the 15th session of the General Conference of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has opened.
The General Conference is being attended by representatives from 30 states, as well as observer countries. Among the 97 participants are high‑ranking guests from ICESCO, nine ministers, and representatives of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. A further 23 delegations have joined the event online.
Addressing the participants, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov expressed his gratitude to all delegates for their contribution to preserving and developing Islamic heritage on a global scale and remarked:
“I am delighted to welcome you all to Kazan – the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World 2026. This is a great honour and recognition of the contribution made by our scholars, cultural figures and artists to world civilisation. We are grateful to the leadership of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation for the trust they have placed in us. A landmark event of the Cultural Capital year is the holding of the ICESCO General Conference in Kazan. For us, this is an opportunity to introduce guests to the cultural potential of Russia and Tatarstan, our historical heritage, and the experience of 175 nationalities living together in peace and harmony in our Republic.”
Words of welcome were also delivered by Ambassador Tariq Ali Bakhit, Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian, Cultural, Social and Family Affairs of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation; Sami bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Sadhan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Russian Federation; and Dr Abdel Aziz Kansoua, President of the ICESCO General Conference and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The Egyptian Minister emphasised that the organisation is confidently strengthening its position as an effective international structure in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. ‘ICESCO is a platform for civilisational dialogue and for forecasting global change,’ he noted.
In his speech, Dr Salim Al-Malik thanked the Republic of Tatarstan for its hospitality and outlined plans for the upcoming working period. “ICESCO seeks to extend its influence beyond the Islamic world by strengthening cultural presence and remaining open to new scientific horizons,” said Al-Malik.
During the two-day conference, participants will discuss granting observer status to Turkmenistan, Brazil and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT). They will also adopt the report of the Executive Council, review the Director-General’s report on activities for 2021–2025, and discuss the draft Strategic Plan and budget for 2026–2029.
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The International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum” is being held in Kazan from 12 to 17 May 2026. In accordance with a decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, the Forum acquired federal status in 2023, becoming the main platform for interaction between Russia and the Islamic world.
Representatives from 103 countries have registered for KazanForum 2026.
The Forum’s 2026 business programme includes 149 events across 21 tracks. Several international exhibitions will be held as part of the Forum: The International Exhibition of Cooperation between Russia and the Islamic World, the “Innovations. Investment. Infrastructure” Exhibition, the International Real Estate Exhibition and Conference, and the Kazan Halal Market Trade Fair. The agenda also includes: the Forum of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of OIC Countries, the Forum of Young Diplomats, the Forum of Young Entrepreneurs, meetings of intergovernmental commissions and bilateral conferences, festivals, gastronomic and sports projects, including the “Business on Horseback” horse race and the International Jockeys’ Championship.
In 2026, Kazan holds the status of Cultural Capital of the Islamic World. Cultural co‑operation will be one of the key themes of the humanitarian agenda – during the Forum, the Congress of Ministers of Culture of OIC Countries and the 15th Session of the ICESCO General Conference will be held. The programme will conclude with the “Izge Bolgar Zhyeni” gathering in Bolgar, dedicated to the Day of the Official Adoption of Islam by Volga Bulgaria
The full programme of the Event is available on the Forum’s official website.
The Roscongress Foundation acts as the Operator for the preparation and holding of the Event, whereas ANO “Directorate for Sports and Social Projects” serves as the Operator’s Executive Directorate.