The Bulletin of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences № 2/2026. World Economy and international economic relations. 

.xmlJATS XML

Vladimir Yu. Salamatov

Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Cand. Sci. (Tech.), Professor, Director at the Institute of International Trade and Sustainable Development, Head of the Department of Commerce and Trade Regulation, Institute of International Trade and Sustainable Development, MGIMO University, Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of Russia, Moscow, Russia

ORCID: 0000-0002-6430-640X

 

Anna V. Tangaeva

Head of the Tariff Barriers and Market Access Department at the Research Center “International Trade and Integration”, Moscow, Russia

ORCID: 0000-0003-3319-2283

 

Anna A. Zharkova

Specialist at the Research Center “International Trade and Integration”, Moscow, Russia

ORCID: 0009-0006-5860-8555

 

RUSSIA AND FRIENDLY EAST AFRICAN COUNTRIES: THE POTENTIAL FOR TRADE AND ECONOMIC INTERACTION AND TRANSPORT CONNECTIVITY

Размер файла144-166 
Размер файла  349.76 K Размер файла Full text

The article examines the prospects for developing trade and economic relations and trans- port and logistics connectivity between Russia and the countries of East Africa. Based on international trade statistics, key commodity groups and directions of mutual trade with containerization potential have been identified. Maritime and multimodal routes have been analyzed, revealing infrastructural limitations of ports and the railway network that hinder the formation of sustainable logistics chains. A SWOT analysis has been conducted, demonstrating a combination of significant market opportunities with high political, financial, and infrastructural risks. The analysis concludes that the most promising direction for Russia is integration into existing regional and trilateral formats of East Africa through alignment with Indian transport and logistics corridors and Mozambique’s ports. It is recommended to form multimodal supply chains taking into account risks for routes through the Suez Canal, with a focus on creating a sustainable container cargo base.

Keywords: East Africa, international trade, transport connectivity, containerization, Global South, logistics hubs, regional integration.

JEL: F14, O55, R40

EDN: VZLTYF

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52180/2073-6487_2026_2_144_166

References

  1. Bogdanov K.V., Kobrinskaya I.Ya., Frumkin B.E. Race on the Global South, or Battle for the World Majority // Russia in Global Affairs. 2024. Vol. 22. No. 5. Pp. 80–97. (In Russ.).
  2. Deich T.L. China in Africa: “Neocolonialism” or “Win-Win” Strategy? // Contours of Global Transformations: Politics, Economics, Law. 2018. No. 5. Pp. 119–139. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.23932/2542-0240-2018-11-5-119-141.
  3. Fituni L.L. Rebuilding the World Order: BRICS and Africa in Times of Change, or “Multipolarity” vs Polycentrism // Scientific Notes of the Institute for African Studies of the RAS. 2022. No. 4 (61). Pp. 17–27. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.31132/2412-5717-2022-61-4-17-27.
  4. Jordaan E. The Concept of a Middle Power in International Relations: Distinguishing between Emerging and Traditional Middle Powers // South African Journal of Political Studies. 2003. Vol. 30. No. 1. Pp. 165–181. DOI:10.1080/0258934032000147282
  5. Ravindran R. Balancing Giants: Kenya’s Foreign Policy Between the West and China in the 21st Century // Leadership, Education, Personality: An Interdisciplinary Journal. 2024. Vol. 19. No. 1. Pp. 1443–1462. https://sibe.rpress.co.in/index.php/jimr/article/view/868/86 (accessed: 20.01.2026).
  6. World Investment Report 2025. https://unctad.org/system/files/officialdocument/wir2025_en.pdf (accessed: 20.01.2026).

Manuscript submission date: 09.02.2026

Manuscript acceptance date: 02.04.2026

 

For citation:

Salamatov V.Yu., Tangaeva A.V., Zharkova A.A. Russia and friendly East African countries: the potential for trade and economic interaction and transport connectivity // Vestnik Instituta Ekonomiki Rossiyskoy Akademii Nauk. 2026. № 2 Pp. 144-166. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.52180/2073-6487_2026_2_144_166 EDN: VZLTYF

  Creative Commons 4.0

© Vestnik Instituta Ekonomiki Rossiyskoy Akademii Nauk, 2021 - 2026

32, Nakhimovskiy Prospekt, Moscow, Russia 117218, Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Phone.: +7 (499) 724-13-91, E-mail: vestnik-ieran@inecon.ru