The potential investment volume through partner financing could reach trillions of rubles.

Anatoly Aksakov, Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, noted the serious potential of the Islamic finance market in Russia at the 2nd AAOIFI International Conference on Partner Financing and Investments "Islamic Finance in the CIS - Potentials and Challenges".

"I am confident that the partner capital market has bright prospects, and in the near future, with the help of partner financing tools, we will be able to attract tens of billions of dollars of investments," he said.

 

His Excellency Sheikh Ibrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of AAOIFI (Bahrain), Oleg Ganeev, Senior Vice President of Sberbank, Nikolay Zhuravlev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, and Midkhat Shagiakhmetov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan and Minister of Economy of the Republic of Tatarstan, delivered welcoming speeches at the event.

His Excellency Sheikh Ibrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa noted that Tatarstan is an advanced region in terms of promoting Islamic finance in the Russian Federation and the CIS countries.

"I would like to thank the Head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, and everyone who provides assistance in these matters. From our side, we are fully ready to provide support in the development of Islamic finance in Russia and the CIS countries," the speaker said.

He also noted that the Organization for Accounting and Auditing of Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) is ready to provide comprehensive assistance and support to the Russian Federation and the CIS countries in the development of the Islamic finance market.

In his welcoming speech, Midkhat Shagiakhmetov stressed the importance of the session devoted to one of the most strategic topics - the prospects for the development of Islamic finance in the CIS countries.

The Minister noted the real transition from individual products to the creation of a full-fledged partner capital market.

"For the first time, digital Islamic financial instruments are being implemented in the country - Islamic factoring, project financing, as well as the first infrastructure sukuk with the participation of VEB.RF, Gazprombank and the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan," the Minister stressed.

Midhat Shagiakhmetov stated that the republic considers the project as the basis for the formation of a new segment of the Russian capital market focused on long-term investments and international partnership.

Also, according to Anatoly Aksakov, over the three years of the experiment's implementation in four regions of Russia – Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Chechnya and Dagestan – the volume of funds raised through partner financing instruments for projects amounts to tens of billions of rubles. He noted that the realization of the existing potential, in particular, is hindered by the fact that so far the vast majority of citizens do not know what investment opportunities are offered to them by partner financing tools.

 

Nikolay Zhuravlev, on behalf of the Federation Council, declared his readiness to support the development of partner financing (Islamic banking) in Russia, including through legislative initiatives.

“Russia's systematic integration into the global architecture of Islamic finance is of strategic importance. The Federation Council will continue to legislatively support this process. Finance should work for real projects and strengthen international cooperation," the speaker noted.

The International Economic Forum "Russia — the Islamic World:
Kazanforum” will be held in Kazan from May 12 to 17, 2026. In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, the Forum acquired federal status in 2023, becoming the main platform for cooperation between Russia and the countries of the Islamic world.

Representatives from 103 countries have registered for Kazanforum 2026.

The business program of the 2026 Forum included 149 events on 21 tracks.

In 2026, Kazan has the status of the cultural capital of the Islamic world.

The Roscongress Foundation is the operator for the preparation and holding of the event, and the executive directorate of the operator is the Directorate of Sports and Social Projects.