Programme

BRICS accounts for 35% of the world’s GDP at purchasing power parity, 46% of the world’s population, and is vital to the global economy. BRICS countries are located strategically at important sea and land transport corridors and are essential to developing international trade and improving global transport and logistics processes. One of BRICS most exciting opportunities for regional economic development is the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) project. How does the addition of new member states to BRICS change the outlook for co-operation on the development of INSTC? How can INSTC contribute to the food, energy, and environmental security of BRICS in its new form? How can we eliminate bottlenecks in the transport corridor?

Welcome addresses
Igor Levitin, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation; Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the Field of Transport
Roman Starovoyt, Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation

Igor Levitin

Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation; Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the Field of Transport

Born on February 21, 1952, in Tsebrikovo, Odessa Region, Ukraine.
1973 – graduated from the Railway Corps and Military Transport School, Leningrad (now St Petersburg).
1983 – graduated from the Military Logistics Support and Transport Academy with a degree in Railway Engineering.
1973–1976 – served on the Transdnestr Railway in the Odessa Military District.
1976–1980 – served in the South Army Group.
1983–1985 – Military Commandant of a railway section and Urgal station on the Baikal-Amur railway line (BAM).
1984 – took part in driving the Golden Spike, when eastern and western sections of the BAM were linked.
1985–1994 – Section Military Commandant, Head of a Military Transport Department and Deputy Head of Military Transport on the Moscow Railway.
1996–2004 – employed at SeverStalTrans.
1998 – Deputy CEO of SeverStalTrans; supervised the transport engineering sector, railway transport and seaport operations.
March 9, 2004 – appointed Transport and Communications Minister.
May 20, 2004 – appointed Transport Minister.
Since May 21, 2012 – Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation.
Since September 2, 2013 – Aide to the President of the Russian Federation.
Was a member of the Public Council of the Government Commission for the Railway Transport Reform.
Married, with a daughter.

Roman Starovoyt

Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation

Born on January 20, 1972 in Kursk. 1995 - graduated from D.F. Ustinov “Voenmeh” Baltic State Technical University (St. Petersburg), majored in impulse heat engines. 2008 - graduated from the Russian Federation Presidential North-West Academy of Public Administration, majored in state and municipal government. Class 1 Active State Advisor of the Russian Federation. 1995 - CEO at “Regionalnoe Investicionnoye Agentstvo” OJSC (“Regional Investment Agency”). 1995-2001 - Director General of “Promyshlennyi” non-state pension plan asset management company. 2002-2005 - CEO at construction company “Stroyinvest” LLC. 2005-2010 - worked in the Committee on Investments and Strategic Projects of the Government of St. Petersburg. 2010-2012 - Deputy Director of Industry and Infrastructure Department of the Central Office of the Government of the Russian Federation. From November 2012 - Head of the Federal Road Agency. Awards: In 2012 was awarded an honor credential of the Government of Russia, Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation, in 2014 - by the medal of honor. Married, 2 daughters. October 11, 2018 by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, the Acting Governor of the Kursk Region. September 8, 2019, elected Governor of the Kursk Region. On September 16, 2019, he took office as Governor of the Kursk Region.
Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation since May 14, 2024.

Moderator
Alexander Misharin, President, Russian Academy of Transport

Alexander Misharin

President, Russian Academy of Transport

Panellists
Hilina Belachew, President, Managing Director, Ethiopian Railway Corporation
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, DP World
Ghiafeh Ghadir, Vice President, Iran Export Confederation
Vijay Kalantri, President, All India Association of Industries
Irvindra Naidoo, Chair of the BRICS Business Council’s Infrastructure Working Group from South Africa
Sergey Pavlov, First Deputy Managing Director, Russian Railways
Nurlan Sauranbayev, Chairman of the Management Board, NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy
Ahmed Hassan Shaker Elmofty, Project Vice President, NERIC (National Egyptian Railway Industries)

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem

Group Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, DP World

His Excellency Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World and Chairman of Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation, is one of Dubai's leading businessmen.
HE Bin Sulayem’s expertise and visionary leadership spearheaded the rapid expansion of Dubai’s infrastructure, including ports and free zones, contributing significantly to the stellar growth trajectory of the United Arab Emirates.
Highlights of his three-decade business career include:
• Leading marine terminal operator DP World’s expansion internationally, including the purchase of the P&O group for US$6.8 billion in March 2006, which propelled it to among the largest global port operators and trade enablers in the world with 77 marine and inland terminals in six continents.
• Overseeing the rapid development of Jafza (Jebel Ali Free Zone) into an unrivalled business park of more than 7300 companies
• Establishing and leading Nakheel, a real estate and tourism property development firm that has created many iconic Dubai projects including The Palm, the world’s largest man-made islands
• Establishing and leading Istithmar World, a major investment house focusing on private equity with a portfolio of investments in diverse sectors across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East including retail, financial services, industry, tourism and hospitality, and healthcare
• Pioneering the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), a market for gold and precious metals, diamonds and coloured stones, energy and other commodities

Sergey Pavlov

First Deputy Managing Director, Russian Railways

First Deputy Managing Director, International Business Development and International Affairs

Mr. Pavlov was born in 1964.

He graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Railway Transport Engineers with a degree in Railway Construction, Track and Track Facilities, and from the Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation.

1987–2007: Held various positions in the Ministry of Railways and JSC Russian Railways

2007–2009: Head of Department for Railway Research and Design, Lengiprotrans

2009–2013: Technical Director, JSC Zarubezhstroytechnologia

2013 – Head, RZD International, a subsidiary of JSC Russian Railways which manages the holding company’s projects abroad

Nurlan Sauranbayev

Chairman of the Management Board, NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy

Ahmed Hassan Shaker Elmofty

Project Vice President, NERIC (National Egyptian Railway Industries)

Front row participants
Ahmed Azimov, General Director, Center for International Strategic Initiatives
Alexander Isaev, General Director, Directorate of International Transport Corridors
Leonid Lozhechko, Chairman of the Russian-Iranian Business Council at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
Alexander Maksimov, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Agrokom-Alliance
Andrey Nikitchenko, General Director, VTB Project Office; Advisor to the President - Chairman of the Management Board, VTB Bank (PJSC)
Hamid Reza Houshiary, Chairman of the Board, Abadan Logistics

Ahmed Azimov

General Director, Center for International Strategic Initiatives

Alexander Isaev

General Director, Directorate of International Transport Corridors