On April 27, 2026, the St. Petersburg Export Forum titled "Made in Russia" was held in St. Petersburg. The event was supported by the Government of St. Petersburg and brought together representatives of federal and regional authorities, hundreds of active exporters and companies considering entering international markets. One of the key objectives of the forum was to offer exporters practical tools to work in foreign markets in a changing environment and a new geography of international trade. 

The business program of the event considered new logistics routes, the use of artificial intelligence in export transactions, work with foreign representatives, as well as exports to Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.

The AKTAWA team actively participated in round tables and sessions of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, focusing on the most pressing and promising topics.: 

• Export of high-tech products ("Export prospects of Russian high-tech"),
• Practical tools for working with African markets ("African Union. What and how to export to African countries?"),
• Comprehensive turnkey transaction support ("Made in St. Petersburg: turnkey export – from promotion to protection of the transaction").

Focus on Africa. What is important to understand?

One of the most sought-after events of the forum was the round table "African Union. What and how to export to African countries?" The moderator was Alexander Nikolaevich Korotkov, Head of the Export Support Center of the Samara region. Alexey Busev, CEO of Incona, Oleg Lazarenko, Export Director of Solopharm, Alexander Semkin, Head of Export Sales at Transtechnomarket, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Exporters Club, and representatives of AKTAWA also participated in the discussion.

During the discussion, certain business challenges were highlighted that any Russian manufacturer may face today if it tries to enter the market in this region on its own.:

• The complexity of counterparty verification. It is impossible to directly verify the reliability of an African company (only an analysis of the partner's customs declarations helps).
• The certification barrier. Local buyers are in no hurry to invest in obtaining certificates for Russian products, which slows down transactions.
• Difficulties with cross-border payments. Direct settlements between Russian and African banks do not work. Long chains through payment agents and trusts carry risks and cost increases.
• A long transaction cycle. Negotiations with partners from Africa have been going on for years. Some of them started in 2022 and still haven't translated into actual contracts.
• Tariff conditions and localization. Imports of finished equipment are subject to a duty of up to 35%, while domestic production is only 10%. African countries (Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa) solve the problem of employment through strict incentives for local assembly.

Bottom line: Africa lacks technology, but it is open to industrial cooperation. The strategy must be clear: either direct sales or full-fledged localization, otherwise it will not be possible to enter the market.

How does AKTAWA turn these barriers into competitive advantages?

The comprehensive approach of AKTAWA gives the Russian exporter what it does not have when entering the market on its own: proven infrastructure, financial leverage and access to real buyers.

1. Transparency and verification of partners

Instead of independently searching for customs declarations of the African counterparty, AKTAWA provides:

• Direct access to a pool of accredited and verified buyers and distributors in South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco (more than 50,000 customers worldwide).
• It has its own agency network in 24 countries, including key African states. Our experts know the local context and can conduct a proper partner check.

2. Working payment mechanisms

AKTAWA conducts: 

• Cross-border payments. The exporter is guaranteed fast and secure transfers between countries.
• Insurance against risks of non-payment.
• Control over the receipt of payment funds and their timely transfer. 

3. Shortening the transaction cycle;

AKTAWA accompanies a turnkey transaction (lawyers, logistics, customs, payments), which significantly shortens its cycle.

In addition, AKTAWA organizes B2B meetings during business missions (for example, the upcoming mission to South Africa on June 10-11, 2026).

Africa, despite all the risks, is a giant market.

The participants in the discussion noted the rapidly growing population, which, in turn, creates a huge demand for:

• Agricultural products and machinery (agribusiness)
• Fertilizers and chemicals
• Energy and medical equipment
• Technical textiles (especially developed in southern Africa)
• Food and processing

AKTAWA, as a reliable export operator, is ready to give the Russian manufacturer the opportunity to occupy these niches right now.

We invite you to participate in the international business mission of AKTAWA in South Africa;

(Johannesburg, June 10-11, 2026)

If you want to turn the discussion of African prospects into real export contracts, join our business mission to the Republic of South Africa.

Why South Africa?

• The economic locomotive of Africa, a member of the BRICS
• The entry point to the markets of the entire sub-region

Priority industries:

• Chemical industry (including fertilizers)
• Mechanical engineering and industrial equipment
• Energy industry
• Medicine and medical equipment
• Shipbuilding

Format of participation:

1. 1.
   Two days of targeted B2B meetings with South African importers, potential customers, distributors and industry partners.
2. 2.
   AKTAWA undertakes: pre-selection of partners, organization of negotiations, translation, legal support, placement of supplier samples in the catalog of the company's digital profile.
3. 3.
   Continuing to work after the mission: bringing the deal to the contract, financing, insurance and delivery.

How do I start a collaboration?

1. 1.
   Send the product catalog by e-mail: world@aktawa.com marked "Export to South Africa".
2. 2.
   The manager of AKTAWA will contact you, select the most sought-after positions and agree on the terms of participation.
3. 3.
   We will place your products on our B2B platform and collect targeted orders for you.

For the AKTAWA team, your global growth is our professional goal.

We have created a system in which Russian businesses enter African markets and compete globally with minimal operational risks.

Don't wait for the next forum and start building your export strategy to Africa today with AKTAWA!