The 2018 St. Petersburg Economic Forum (SPIEF), which is due to open in Russia’s second largest city later this week, will receive about 15,000 participants, St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko said.
"The interest is still high and official delegations from over 100 countries will come, which accounts for some 15,000 potential participants," Poltavchenko said. "Among high-ranking guests, we are expecting in St. Petersburg French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe."
According to Poltavchenko, representatives of major companies from over 70 countries are also expected at the SPIEF, including from Great Britain.
"Great Britain will be also represented. I am not ready to say who will be heading the delegation, but it will consist of representatives of major British businesses," TASS cited him as saying.
"In other words, despite the recent rhetoric the interest of business as well as among world politicians is still high in regard to the forum," the governor added.
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, due on May 24-26, is one of the world’s key economic discussion formats. It is held under the patronage of the Russian president. Traditionally it gathers foreign heads of state and government, key public figures, heads of international organizations and major companies, leading world experts and analysts and media.
