Moscow Days Held in Ankara

Moscow Days took place in Ankara. The program included business meetings, a conference titled “Moscow – Ankara: A New Stage of Partnership,” thematic roundtables, and a cultural program. The Moscow delegation was led by Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations. He spoke about the growth of cooperation with Turkey: “We are seeing a steady increase in trade turnover between Moscow and Turkish partners. Last year, Turkey moved up to third place in foreign economic ties with Moscow. And in the first half of this year, we are seeing even faster growth in our ties. Turkey has become second in terms of foreign trade turnover between Moscow and foreign partners. That is why we are extremely interested in continuing our active cooperation across various sectors.”

During the Moscow delegation’s visit to the Turkish capital, a protocol on cooperation between Moscow and Ankara for 2026‑2029 was signed. The Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow outlined the key aspects of the cooperation: “In our document, we provide for cooperation in various areas. First and foremost, what matters most to the authorities of our cities – creating a comfortable urban environment, harmonious territorial development, providing quality services to our populations, cooperation in social affairs, healthcare, and education. Today, the world’s largest megacities can be competitive if they develop digital technologies and use artificial intelligence, and we also plan to cooperate in this area.” The program also includes cooperation in culture and cultural heritage preservation. At the signing, Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş emphasized: “Relations between Moscow and Ankara began to develop in 1992 and have continued to develop ever since in all directions, especially in terms of exchanging knowledge and experience in municipal services.”

The conference “Moscow – Ankara: A New Stage of Partnership” brought together government representatives and Russian and Turkish businesses. In his speech, the Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations stressed the importance of city diplomacy. Moscow cooperates with more than 150 megacities and urban agglomerations. The Russian capital is ready to share its developments with colleagues in various fields, such as transport infrastructure development. Moscow operates Europe’s largest electric bus fleet and the world’s largest car‑sharing system. The capital has introduced a unique mode of transport — electric river vessels that operate year‑round. The metro is also being actively developed: 123 new stations have been built over the past 13 years, with plans to have 517 metro stations in operation by 2030. The city’s development strategy is thus built around maximum comfort for its residents.

According to Cheremin, the use of digital technologies helps make life in the metropolis more convenient. Moscow residents have access to 450 different online services. Artificial intelligence is actively used in urban planning and city security. Moscow has the world’s largest video surveillance system — 300,000 cameras integrated into a unified system that processes data using artificial intelligence. A unique intelligent transport system helps increase traffic speeds and combat congestion. Digital healthcare systems and the Moscow Electronic School system are also operating effectively. “All these achievements have been highly recognized by the international expert community. Moscow annually receives various high ratings and awards at international forums and congresses,” Cheremin said.

The Minister presented Moscow’s investment potential to Turkish partners. The Russian capital consistently ranks first in the national investment attractiveness rating. The total volume of accumulated direct investment stands at $250 billion. Many foreign companies operate in Moscow, including hundreds of Turkish companies. The city supports them just as it does Moscow residents. Sergey Cheremin spoke about the conditions for business development in the Russian capital: “Moscow strictly adheres to the sustainable development principles adopted by the United Nations in 2015, and all our programs are formed with these principles in mind. Moscow provides unique benefits for enterprises and industry. We try to support small and medium‑sized businesses in every way possible.” Companies have access to 150 support measures, enabling businesses and startups to develop rapidly. Moscow’s industry is showing steady growth, with particular attention paid to high‑value‑added sectors such as information technology, pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering, and aerospace. Moscow is home to around 50 technology parks, whose residents produce innovative products. Industrial digitalization and artificial intelligence are widely used. This strategy has allowed industrial production to double over the past ten years.

Vladimir Platonov, President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that representatives of 22 Moscow companies had come to Ankara and were open to cooperation. At Moscow Days, they hoped to establish direct contacts with Turkish partners.

Gürsel Baran, President of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the nature of Russian‑Turkish cooperation: “The Turkish and Russian economies consist of sectors that complement each other rather than compete. Our trade relations benefit both sides.” He noted that cooperation between Moscow and Ankara is particularly promising in boosting trade turnover, developing technology parks, healthcare, and tourism. A record 6.7 million Russian citizens visited Turkey in 2024.

Ankara Vice‑Mayor Emre Doğan highlighted another promising area: “Energy occupies a very important place in our partnership. For both us and the Russian Federation, energy is an extremely relevant and strategic area of cooperation. We are implementing many energy projects. Our major joint project is the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant — four units that will supply industry with a very large volume of electricity.” According to Doğan, the goal is to increase trade turnover between Russia and Turkey to $100 billion. He also set two important objectives: transitioning to trade in national currencies and introducing a visa‑free regime.

Moscow Days in Ankara included not only a business program but also a cultural one. Cultural exchange is a vital part of Turkish‑Russian cooperation. As part of Moscow Days in Ankara, the jazz ensemble of Vadim Eilenkrig performed, presenting a vibrant palette of Russian jazz. The concert aimed to bring the two capitals closer together through rich cultural heritage. A number of meetings on cultural cooperation also took place during Moscow Days.