Russia's economy shifts as women lead and local trade solutions rise
Russia’s business landscape has seen major shifts in recent years, particularly in trade and leadership roles. More women now hold top managerial positions, while cross-border payments face growing challenges. At the same time, domestic financial solutions are stepping in to fill the gap left by foreign banks. Over the past decade, the share of women among Russia’s top 1,000 managers climbed from 28% to 43.6%. This trend extends to entrepreneurship, with 6.2 million women running businesses as of early 2026. Financial firm A7 reflects this change—67.7% of its workforce are women, and they occupy 45.8% of leadership roles.
Foreign trade has also transformed. By the end of 2025, the ruble and currencies from allied nations accounted for over 85% of settlements. The ruble alone made up more than 54% of these transactions. Imports from China reached $26.5 billion in the same year. Yet, international banking hurdles persist. Foreign banks introduced delays of 7 to 14 days, sometimes stretching to a month, for Russian company transactions. Rejection rates for cross-border payments hit 40% by 2024. In response, A7 processed an agribusiness payment in a single day, ensuring a shipment of apricots arrived on time. The firm emphasised full compliance with currency control rules to maintain transparency.
The rise of women in leadership and the shift toward domestic currencies mark key changes in Russia’s economy. With foreign banking restrictions tightening, local financial providers like A7 are playing a bigger role in keeping trade moving. These developments point to a more self-reliant system for cross-border transactions.
