Kazan Is Slowly Returning To Its Former Glory

From Nor Baizura Basri

KAZAN (Russia), May 17 (Bernama) -- Bauman Street in Kazan, known as the city’s main pedestrian and social hub, was bustling with activity as friends and families spent time together, with buskers adding to the lively atmosphere.

The capital of Tatarstan, a semi-autonomous region within Russia, is home to more than a million people and is actively involved in various industrial activities.

With the Kazan Forum being held just thirty minutes away from Bauman Street, the city has become even more vibrant as delegates and participants gather, with the street also becoming a common space for strolls.

The city’s strategic location near the Volga River, which stretches 3,531 km (2,194 miles) through western Russia, originating in the Valdai Hills northwest of Moscow and flowing into the Caspian Sea, made it one of the world’s important Eurasian trade hubs before its decline following conquest.

Nicknamed “Mother Volga”, the river holds deep economic and historical significance not only for Kazan but also globally, as it served as a crucial trade and transport route linking the Silk Road and key Viking trade networks between the 8th and 11th centuries.

While it remains a vital point of connection among Russia, Islamic countries, and the Asian region, few knew about the city until the Kazan Economic Forum was hosted there.

The city gained further prominence when Russia chaired BRICS in 2024, as the intergovernmental organisation grew in global importance, with more countries, including Malaysia, joining as partners alongside the bloc’s 11 members.

The 17th edition of the forum this year, together with the city itself, continues to gain momentum as Russia and Islamic countries gather to assess global developments amid the United States-Iran war, which has disrupted global trade activities.

The forum, entitled “Russia — Islamic World: KazanForum 2026”, brought together 22,000 participants from more than 93 countries, including officials, investors and business leaders, to strengthen economic and cultural ties between Russia and the Islamic world.

The forum emerged as a key platform for countries to seek alternative resources and strengthen cooperation as global supply shortages worsen following the war.

“The attacks on infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, as well as disruptions in the Hormuz Strait, have certainly had a major impact on us.

“Therefore, the dialogue here is important for us to discuss these challenges,” said Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace Executive Director Khalifa Mubarak Aldhaheri of the United Arab Emirates during the plenary session of the annual meeting of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World” on Friday.

Big oil reserves 

With top oil producers such as Saudi Arabia facing supply shortages, attention has turned to Russia, which is currently the world’s third-largest oil producer.

It should be noted that Tatarstan is home to the Romashkinskoye field, the largest oil field in Tatarstan and the second-largest in Russia.

Located in the southeastern part of the republic, it contains an estimated one billion tonnes of confirmed oil reserves.

Malaysia is among many Asian countries seeking oil supplies from Russia, with these reserves serving as a potential source.

Apart from that, Tatneft, one of the top five oil producers with major operations in Kazan, is not only focused on its traditional business but is also expanding into the renewable energy and biotechnology sectors, which offer immense future potential.

Similar culture, values 

Tatarstan Republic Head Rustam Minnikhanov said profound changes at the turn of the millennium began reshaping the global system of international relations, with the emergence of a new multipolar world order becoming one of the defining trends.

“These developments prompted the search for new forms of cooperation between Russia and the states of the Islamic world,” he said.

Minnikhanov pointed out that Russia, as a multinational state, possesses unique experience in building dialogue with the world’s traditional religions.

“It is no coincidence that representatives of these faiths have coexisted and interacted peacefully on the territory of our country for centuries.

“One vivid example of interfaith harmony is the Republic of Tatarstan. This can be clearly seen in the Kazan Kremlin, where the Kul Sharif Mosque stands alongside the Orthodox Annunciation Cathedral, as well as in many other places where houses of worship of different religions coexist side by side,” he said.

The similarities found in Kazan certainly provide comfort and familiarity to the Islamic world, which in turn could open up many opportunities.

Kazan's hospitality is on another level.

This is certainly one of Russia’s strengths, driven by Kazan’s own internal capabilities as it continues exploring greater collaboration opportunities with its Islamic counterparts in the coming years.

It may not be fully visible now, but Kazan, often seen as a sleeping giant, is gradually regaining its full potential and moving forward to reclaim its former glory.

-- BERNAMA