Congratulations Russia! For once you’re getting your IT right!

So what is wrong with a little propaganda? I’m impressed with the programs of the Russia-Africa summit and the speed with which information is being disseminated.

I’m also used to waiting .. waiting for the Russian leader’s formal statements which sometimes take days to become publically available. Ruptly (RT) usually has the important speeches live, but then, they rebroadcast one time only – clunky indeed!  China in comparison is quick and it is almost real time and China has a speech and three articles out before Russia even lists the event.

Take a look at the program page of the summit. You will see over the top for example the business program. Click on that, and all speeches and statements are available almost in real-time to listen to, or to download.

I am listening to New Russian–African Logistics Routes and all I needed to do, was to click on the headphone icon at the bottom of the video, and change the language. Slick! Well-Done!

https://summitafrica.ru/en/programme/business-programme/

Mr.Putin kicked off at a blistering pace and set a high bar at the plenary session and here are the main points:

🤝 Russia–Africa trade turnover reached $18 billion. In 2023, trade in agricultural products between Russia and Africa grew by 60% .

🌾 Russia holds a 20% share of the global wheat market. In the first 6 months 2023, it has already exported 10 million tons of grain to Africa. Russia is ready to provide Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Somalia, and Eritrea with 25-50 thousand tons of grain each in the next 3-4 months and ensure its free delivery to consumers.

🔋 Vladimir Putin announced the preparation of approximately 30 energy projects involving Russia in Africa, with a total capacity of around 3.7 gigawatts across 16 African countries.

🛢️ Russian oil and gas exports to Africa have increased by 2.6 times. Russia can provide Africa with unique non-energy applications of nuclear technology, including in medicine.

🇪🇬 A Russian industrial zone near the Suez Canal in Egypt will soon launch, and its products will be exported throughout Africa.

💳 Russia is ready to develop Africa’s financial infrastructure and connect them to the Russian payment system.

🤝 Russia promotes the establishment of relations between the EAEU and Africa and will share integration experience of the Union State of Russia and Belarus.

🤝 Vladimir Putin suggested to establish intergovernmental commissions with all interested countries.

👨‍🎓 Nearly 35,000 African students are studying in Russia, and their numbers are constantly growing. The quota has increased by 2.5 times and will exceed 4,700 persons next year.

👩‍⚕️ Russia will supply 10 mobile laboratories and train hundreds of specialists as part of a joint program to combat infections with 2.1 billion rubles allocated for it.

🏃 Russia proposes to intensify cooperation in sport and invites Afrcan youth to participate in Russian sport events.

📢 Work is underway to open TASS, Russia Today, RG, and VGTRK media offices in Africa.

Of course that trade turnover is very small yet.

Much is being made in Western climes of the fact that only 17 Heads of State from Africa are attending the event.  There are reasons for that but we will pick up these in detail at the next BRICS article.

UPDATE Day 1:  Karl Sanchez has given us the available transcripts of the very many speeches that he collects on his substack.  Wonderful!  https://karlof1.substack.com/p/russia-africa-summit-or-biden-corruption

UPDATE Day 2: Russia-Africa Summit Day 2: Leaders Roundtable  https://karlof1.substack.com/p/russia-africa-summit-day-2-leaders