More than 20000 participants are attending the prestigious St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Russia.
The forum which kicked off today, is Russia’s flagship business and investment event attracting guests from 140 countries solely focused on promoting a “multipolar” world.
Despite the troubling war between Russia and the West, organisers have confirmed participation of unnamed U.S. business representatives.
Organizers announced earlier that a Thursday panel called “Russia-USA” would feature U.S. business figures with Russian ties discussing ongoing commercial engagement despite limited political dialogue since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Among the 50 countries sending government officials to SPIEF 2025 are China, Vietnam, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the Central African Republic and Burkina Faso. Taliban officials also arrived from Afghanistan on Wednesday.
Putin is scheduled to deliver his annual keynote speech during Friday’s plenary session alongside Prabowo, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, Bahraini royal Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
President Putin is expected today (Wednesday) to hold a meeting with the heads of major international news agencies.
According to organisers, the list of speakers at SPIEF 2025 includes children of Russia’s ruling elite, such as Putin’s daughter Katerina Tikhonova and Ksenia Shoigu, daughter of former Defense Minister and current Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu.
This year’s forum features more than 150 business and themed events centered on “Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World.” These will include sessions hosted by BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Group of 20, according to the Kremlin.
Putin highlighted SPIEF 2025’s focus on “technology and digital transformation as key drivers of leadership in the modern world,” as well as discussions on demographics, labor productivity, science and education, healthcare and social protection.