On May 18-19, 2023, the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center hosted the XIV International Economic Forum Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum, which is the main platform for economic interaction between Russia and the countries of the Islamic world. More than 15 thousand guests from 80 countries of the world took part in the forum.

The Russian Convention Bureau took part in the unified exposition of the Russian Federation, presenting the country's event potential through the prism of congress and exhibition events in various areas of industry and economy. In the calendar of Russian events for the period 2023-2024. included industry forums and exhibitions held by member companies of the Association "Russian Convention Bureau" - organizers, operators, venues and regional offices.

As part of the business program of the forum, the director of the Russian Convention Bureau, Sagid Zaremukov, moderated the session "Hospitality according to Halal standards", organized by ANO "Roskachestvo". Halal tourism is a rapidly growing market sector. With the rise of the middle class Muslim population and rising incomes, many countries, whether Muslim or not, are seeking to attract this category of travelers and tailor their services to Muslim guests. In Russia, halal tourism is a relatively new direction.

During the session, the speakers discussed the current state of affairs in the tourism industry, which, along with other areas, is part of the Halal eco-system, shared their experience and plans, noted key needs and steps for further development, spoke about the prospects for creating a national hospitality system according to Halal standards.

The speakers were: Maxim Protasov, Head of ANO "Russian System of Quality", Alexander Solovyov, Deputy Head of the Federal Accreditation Service (Rosakkreditatsiya), Rustam Tapaev, Deputy General Director of JSC "KAVKAZ.RF", Sergey Ivanov, Chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Tatarstan for Tourism, Igor Bukharov, President of the Federation of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers, Dean of the Faculty of Hospitality of the Institute of Industry Management, Elena Veselova, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships at the Carlton Hotel, Nizar al-Ghandour, Director of International Relations Fambras Halal (Brazil), Kamoliddin Muminzod, Chairman Committee for Tourism Development under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emin Merdanov, Minister of Tourism and Folk Artistic Crafts of the Republic of Dagestan.

Maxim Protasov, head of the ANO Russian Quality System, noted that Roskachestvo-Halal has recently become the first domestic halal certification body that has passed the accreditation procedure in the Federal Accreditation Service and will begin certification of the halal market, including catering, tourism, hotel business, congress and exhibition and other services.

Summing up the session, Director of the Russian Convention Bureau Sagid Zaremukov noted that the hospitality industry according to halal standards in Russia is a full-fledged and one of the most promising areas and much has already been done for development, a good foundation has been laid, which nevertheless needs to be strengthened in terms of standardization and certification. “If we talk about business tourism - about the visitors of the forums. congresses, conferences, exhibitions - we already see excellent examples of the implementation of halal standards - both at KazanForum and at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, especially in recent years,” Sagid Zaremukov emphasized.

Also at the site of the International Economic Forum "Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum" the Russian Convention Bureau signed a cooperation agreement with the Association of Exporters and Importers. The agreement was signed by RCB Director Sagid Zaremukov and Vice President of the Association of Exporters and Importers Irina Zasedatel. The purpose of the agreement is the development of the event industry as an integral part of the country's non-commodity exports within the framework of the national project "International Cooperation and Export", as well as the tourism industry in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, primarily by increasing the number of business tourists participating in congress and exhibition events.