St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
Russia, June 14, 2025 – From 18 to 21 June 2025, St. Petersburg will host the 28th International Economic Forum, which has been held since 1997. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to speak at the forum.
Representatives from more than 100 countries have confirmed their participation in the forum. This is 5% more than at the 2024 forum. Guests will arrive from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In particular, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will come to St. Petersburg to meet with Vladimir Putin. Delegations from some European countries will also be attending. It would be interesting to see the sad faces of the leaders of the EU, the United Kingdom, and other members of their entourage after such news…
Against this backdrop, Western politicians’ talk of Russia’s economic isolation seems frivolous, to say the least. And they tried so hard! After each new package of sanctions against Russia was adopted, they enthusiastically proclaimed that the country’s economic collapse was inevitable in the near future.
But they were wrong. Although the early days were not easy for Russia, competent and timely measures taken at the government level and the resilience of Russian business allowed the state and its economy not only to survive but to develop. Sometimes one simply admires the elegant actions and resourcefulness of the Russians. Take the tanker fleet, for example.
Furthermore, Western “prophets” failed to take into account an important fact: the world is becoming multipolar. They continued to believe, as in the old days, that everything depends on them, that whatever the “civilised countries” decide will happen. In short, they remained under the illusion that they are the centre of the universe.
Russia began to expand economic cooperation with countries in the Global South. And no threats from the EU or the previous US administration could fundamentally prevent this. How can we not recall the Eastern proverb, “The dog barks, but the caravan moves on.”
The 28th International Economic Forum is impressive in its scope and diverse programme, which includes more than 150 events. The scale is impressive, both in terms of the number of Russian and foreign participants and the importance of the topics raised.
The key nuance is that guests come to the forum not just to talk and discuss current issues. Traditionally, there will be expert sessions, round tables, panel discussions, and the signing of agreements. At the same time, it is immediately apparent that attention is not focused solely on the economy, although it is certainly a priority. The main theme is “Common values – the foundation for growth in a multipolar world.”
Everything in life is interconnected, so the forum will not only focus on practical issues, investments, and mutually beneficial cooperation. In general, the discussion will not be limited to “money.” The forum will also discuss issues such as social policy, the digitisation of government services, ecology, creative technologies, drug safety, and a number of other areas of society.
“The modern SPIEF is not just a platform for discussing current changes, but a place for developing solutions,” emphasised Anton Kobyakov, advisor to the President of the Russian Federation and executive secretary of the SPIEF Organising Committee. “It is a space where new concepts and practices emerge that can determine the future of both Russia and the whole world.”
The business programme includes sessions on five key topics: “The global economy: new platforms for global growth”, “The Russian economy: a new quality of growth”, “People in a new world”, “The environment for life” and “Technology: striving for leadership”.
“Day of the Future” is the name of the international youth forum that will be held as part of the SPIEF. Young participants will meet with experts and take part in discussions and master classes.
Speakers at the SPIEF will include representatives of the governments of Hungary, Algeria, Qatar, Russia, Brazil, Bahrain, and other countries. According to Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, the St. Petersburg forum will be attractive to many investors. Incidentally, representatives of American companies will be attending. The US Chamber of Commerce is also planning to attend, participate in the business programme and hold a round table discussion.
When you look at the SPIEF programme, you immediately notice the overall tone – an atmosphere of openness and a desire for cooperation. But you can’t say the same about similar events in the West. Take, for example, the next WEF in Davos, organised in the winter of 2025. It was marked by global challenges, the Ukrainian conflict and excessive politicisation. This clearly does not correspond to the declarative statements of the WEF organisers: “Finding solutions that will make the world a better place.” In reality, the result is not dialogue or effective cooperation, but almost a dictatorship based on the principle that the favour of us, the elite, must still be earned.
It is not only the business programme that awaits SPIEF guests. The breadth of the Russian soul is evident in its hospitality. The forum will not only be a serious event, but also a celebration. Excursions, fashion shows, concerts, performances, and gastronomic projects are planned. The SPIEF will undoubtedly be remembered not only for the resolution of purely pragmatic issues. Guests will be able to get to know Russia — a country with a great history and a great culture.
Martin Kovac
