RUSSIA’S PRESIDENT PUTIN LET’S THE WAY FOR THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC CONFERENCE IN ST PETERSBURG

The 2025 St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) has attracted throngs of international participants who have put up stalls and exhibition points throughout the sprawling venue in Russia’s cultural capital.

SPIEF 2025 kicked off on June 19 and runs until June 21. It is Russia’s flagship event that contributes massively to the country’s economic growth, particularly during this time of geopolitical stand-off with the West. Although the Russian President was unable to attend day one of the proceedings, he nonetheless gave his green light in a televised passionate video message wishing participants and organizers well.

SPIEF 2025 is the 28^th edition of the annual masterpiece. It is organized by Roscongress, Russia’s state-owned key enterprise in charge of, among others, events and logistics. More than 170 countries are taking part in SPIEF 2025 and 20,000 participants fill the vast conference facilities. Virtually at every country stall, there are signing ceremonies being signed in arguably one of the world’s biggest networking occasions.

South Africa is represented at SPEIF 2025 by Deputy President Paul Mashatile. He is accompanied by a top government delegation that includes Minister of Trade, Industry and Commerce Parks Tau and business leadership.