"The President set the goal of increasing the growth rate in the Russian economy to a level higher than the global average. To accomplish this, investments should amount to 25–27% of GDP. This is a complex task that requires the systemic development of infrastructure and export capabilities, the creation of new convenient financial instruments, the substantial simplification of administrative procedures, and predictable macroeconomic conditions. However, this will not be sufficient if the trust between the public, business, and the government does not attain a qualitatively new level," Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Oreshkin said. "Therefore 'building an economy of trust' – the main theme selected for this year’s Forum – reflects one of the most important tasks we face today," he said.
The theme of trust is particularly relevant for sessions devoted to the development of the financial system. Economic growth requires financial resources, and the effectiveness of financial intermediation as a whole and the development of long-term money institutions are impossible without trust between economic agents and trust in institutions. Factors that contribute to growing trust in the financial system include the integrity of participants, healthy competition, and the protection of the rights of depositors and shareholders. These and related themes will be actively discussed at the Forum.”
Discussions within the framework of the business programme will be held in four thematic areas:
The thematic block ‘The Global Economy in an Era of Change’ will touch upon all aspects of economic relations in the changing world – from demographics and solving problems of social inequality to the development of energy and the application of new technologies in agribusiness. It will also focus on an economy of joint consumption, the World Ocean economy as well as charity and philanthropy.
Discussions about the impact of new technologies on all spheres of life will be held as part of the thematic block ‘Leadership Technologies’. The participants will discuss the use of artificial intelligence in the real sector, the use of blockchain technology in management and business, the construction of digital infrastructure, gene therapy, and breakthrough technologies in medicine.
The 'Human Capital in the Digital Economy' block will focus on the transformation of the world’s labour market, the role of education in the digital economy, and competitiveness in the knowledge economy.
"The SPIEF architecture fully reflects the current trends and challenges that are facing Russia and the world right now. We will only be able to respond to these challenges if all the parties concerned – the state, business, and non-profit organizations – act together on an equal footing by forming an economy of trust. In this regard, the presentation of the results of the National Regional Investment Climate Ranking conducted by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives fits perfectly into the programme. The rating is based on surveys of entrepreneurs and is subjective, thus the highest ratings are generally given to regions where a dialogue has been established between representatives of the state authorities and the business community. The daily technological breakthroughs in such a wide variety of areas have forced everyone to pick up the pace, and Russia needs to be a part of this movement. That’s why the architecture of the St. Petersburg Forum is literally permeated with digitalization – sessions on education, healthcare, finance, communications, and management skills have been announced. I am confident that this Forum will become a platform for discussing the most pressing topics and developing concrete solutions," Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) General Director Svetlana Chupsheva said.
The Youth Economic Forum will be held pursuant to instructions from the Russian president concerning the creation of a youth section at the SPIEF. The participants will discuss key economic and political issues with international and Russian business leaders, major international experts, and scientists. In addition, the Forum events will help to establish contacts with young entrepreneurs from all over the world and develop ways for the international business community to interact.
The Forum will also include events in the popular format ‘Conversations about the Future’. A foresight session ‘The Future of the Mind’ will be hosted by Michio Kaku, a specialist in theoretical physics and popularizer of science. Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov will also talk about the future of technological entrepreneurship in Russia.
In addition, events on the sidelines of the SPIEF will include a meeting of the B20 regional advisory council, the Russian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Forum as well as a session of the ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ International Arctic Forum on the theme ‘Arctic Potential. The Northeast Passage as a Driver of Economic Growth’.
The detailed architecture of the Forum’s programme is available on the event’s official website www.forumspb.com.
Roscongress Foundation – a major organizer of congress and exhibition events
The Roscongress Foundation was founded in 2007 with the aim of facilitating the development of Russia’s economic potential and strengthening the country’s image by organizing conventions, exhibitions, and public events. The Foundation develops substantive content for such events, providing companies and organizations with advice, information, and expert guidance, and offering comprehensive evaluation, analysis, and coverage of the Russian and global economic agendas. It offers administrative services and promotional support for business projects and helps to attract investment, including in the form of public-private partnerships.
Today, its annual programme includes events held from Montevideo to Vladivostok, offering an opportunity to bring together global business leaders, experts, the media, and government officials in one place, creating favourable conditions for dialogue and the promotion of new ideas and projects, and assisting in the creation of social enterprise and charity projects.