News

The Great African Expedition 2024/2025 will kick off at the Kaliningrad Sea Fishing Port on 21 August 2024. The research mission, which will be held with the support of the Roscongress Foundation, will seek to assess the biological resources in Africa’s Exclusive Maritime Economic Zone.

“The expedition will provide valuable scientific data on Africa’s biological resources and new opportunities for Russia’s fishing industry to develop as it expands export markets and strengthens Russia’s geopolitical position in Africa. The mission is an important step towards Russia’s strategic goal to strengthen international cooperation and gain access to promising new markets,”- Head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries Ilya Shestakov said.

The event will be attended by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Patrushev, Head of the Federal Agency for Fisheries Ilya Shestakov, Acting Governor of the Kaliningrad Region Alexey Besprozvannykh, and the ambassadors of the countries where the research will take place, among other officials.

“The Roscongress Foundation is teaming up with Rosrybolovstvo (Federal Agency for Fisheries) to hold a series of economic and cultural events in the countries of call during the expedition to expand ties and develop cooperation. The legendary barque “Kruzenshtern” will join the voyage in the name of cross-cultural friendship and understanding. The scientists on the research vessels are laying the foundation for future fishery cooperation by collecting data that will identify the potential for joint projects, investment, and fisheries development in Africa,” Deputy CEO of the Roscongress Foundation and Director of the Eastern Economic Forum Igor Pavlov said.

The event programme includes a launching ceremony, a meeting with the crews involved, and a closer look at one of the research vessels and the Kruzenshtern, the training vessel joining the expedition.

The expedition will take place in 2024–2025 in accordance with Order No. 1538-r of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 19 June 2024, inspired by the Russia–Africa Summit 2023.

In continuation of the agreements reached at the Summit, the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum will be held at Sirius in autumn 2024. The event is being organized by the Roscongress Foundation. Meeting participants will consider the interim results of key agreements with the conference to focus on expanding cooperation between BRICS and Africa.