The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), held in St. Petersburg since 1997, is a key business event in the economic sphere of Russia. Since 2005, the forum has been held with the participation of the President of Russia, which underlines its importance in the international arena.
SPIEF attracts the heads of major Russian and foreign companies, heads of state and political leaders, heads of government, deputy prime ministers, ministers and governors. Since 2001, the forum has been recognized as the main economic event in the CIS.
The main mission of the forum is to be a practical tool for business, helping to overcome barriers between Russia and other countries, both geographical and informational. Every year, hundreds of agreements and investment agreements for large sums are concluded at the forum sites, both within the Russian Federation and when attracting foreign investment.
In 2012, the SPIEF was held on June 21-23. The architecture of the program included four themes: "Creating a Secure Future", "Russian Potential in Action", "At the forefront of Innovation" and "World-changing Meetings". Traditionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the forum.
In 2012, the forum was attended by 5347 participants from 70 countries, including 290 representatives of official delegations. Among them was a delegation from Morocco, which included representatives of the Russian-Moroccan Alliance.
More than 157 heads of foreign and 447 Russian companies, 55 heads of foreign companies and 23 heads of Russian companies included in the Forbes ratings participated in the official program. 84 agreements were signed, of which nine in the amount of 360 billion rubles, four loan agreements in the amount of 164.4 billion rubles.
The business program of the forum included more than 70 events: round tables, debates, briefings, panel discussions, business dialogues, technology presentations and business lunches.
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum continues to play an important role in the development of Russia's economic ties with the world community. Thanks to its large-scale program and the participation of leading world leaders, the forum remains a key platform for discussing key issues and concluding important agreements.