SPIEF’s business program to reflect Russia’s readiness to develop new ties

Participants will look for new possibilities for strengthening the country’s economic sovereignty and for resolving priority tasks facing humankind

Russia’s course toward openness and wide international cooperation will be the focus of the business program of the 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which begins on Thursday, Qazet.az reports.

Participants will look for new possibilities for strengthening the country’s economic sovereignty and for resolving priority tasks facing humankind.

The jubilee, 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), is especially symbolic. Over the years of its existence, it has become an authoritative international event, which is often called Russian Davos. But the organizer of the forum in Davos, the World Economic Forum, this year embarked on a path of "cancelling" and, due to the Western sanctions, has suspended contacts with the Russian side, which has participated in this forum since 1986. However, Russia was discussed practically at all sessions of the Swiss forum. The SPIEF, on the contrary, is one of the most open formats, with delegates from more than 120 world nations, including such not very friendly countries as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands, taking part.

On June 16, the forum will be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to his press secretary Dmitry Peskov, the president will meet with businessmen to discuss the situation in the automotive industry. The meeting will also be attended by Russian government officials. Apart from that, according to Peskov, Putin will have contacts with entrepreneurs and investors.