“Strong people-to-people connections are the backbone of lasting bilateral relations,” said Gleb Shubin, Culture, Science and Education Attaché at the Embassy of the Russian Federation.
Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday, he stated that language was not just a means of communication; it was the gateway to understanding culture, building trust, and fostering cooperation in trade, investment, education, and diplomacy.
During the visit, Gleb Shubin, along with LCCI President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol, formally inaugurated the Russian Language Course. Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh, Vice President Khurram Lodhi, Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in Lahore Dr Ashraf Nizami, Executive Committee Member Mohsin Bashir, and others were also present.
Gleb Shubin described the launch of the Russian language course as a concrete first step towards enhancing people-to-people interaction, which would ultimately translate into stronger cooperation in trade, investment, education, and other sectors. He added that Russia has a clear and positive stance towards Pakistan, aimed at strengthening relations across all spheres, and that closer engagement between business communities could unlock significant trade potential and create opportunities for joint industrial ventures.
Enhancing dialogue between business communities and encouraging cultural exchanges will unlock untapped opportunities and create new avenues for joint ventures and industrial cooperation, he said.
He also informed participants that the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Pakistan would visit the LCCI in the near future to further deepen engagement with Pakistan’s business community, emphasising that collaboration is crucial to expanding bilateral economic and cultural relations.
Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol said that Russia was an emerging trade destination for Pakistan. He highlighted that although bilateral trade has improved in recent years, it remains far below its true potential. He emphasised Pakistan’s strategic location as a natural gateway to Central Asia, offering Russia access to warm waters and regional markets, along with cost-effective transit routes, logistics support, and connectivity for trade between Russia, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East.
LCCI President added that Pakistani businesses can explore joint ventures with Russian counterparts in energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, and information technology. He stressed that learning the Russian language would help entrepreneurs better understand Russian markets, regulations, and business culture, facilitating smoother trade and investment relations.
