SPIEF-2022 opens in St. Petersburg

The 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the most important annual economic conference in Russia, will be held this year from June 15 to 18.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will give assessments to the situation in global policy and economy when speaking at the plenary session of the 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), aide to the Russian President Yury Ushakov told reporters.

"It is anticipated that the President will give assessments to the current situation in the global economy and policy. Certainly, the case in point will be problems currently faced by the world’s economy at large, unfair competition among states, trade and financial wars, sanctions, restrictions, and so on," he said.

"The President will share his assessment of multipolar economic model forming and will give the assessment to opportunities and prospects opening this process for players of the entire global market," Ushakov noted.

The greater portion of the President’s speech will be dedicated to further economic development of the country, the Kremlin spokesman said. "The President will dedicate a significant part of his statement to tasks Russia faces at present and will face tomorrow - tasks of supporting further economic development of the country, stimulating domestic business activity, creating conditions for comfortable doing business and strengthening external trade and investment ties," Ushakov added.

The inaugural day of SPIEF 2022 will feature the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Forum (SME), the ‘Ensuring Drug Security’ Russian Pharmaceutical Forum and the Creative Business Forum. Thematic Forum venues - "Arctic: Territory of Dialogue", "Innovation Space", "Social Platform", "Sustainable Future" and "Healthy Life Area" - will also start their work.

The main event of the SME forum on June 15 will be the plenary session, headlined 'New SME Strategy: Challenges, Opportunities, and Solutions,' to discuss new opportunities and points of growth for small businesses, as well as measures of support for the sector, for its production and supply chains.

The June 15 schedule of the Creative business forum is split into two main groups of themes: ‘Transformation in the World and Growth in the Creative Economy’ and "Creative Industries of the North."