Vladimir Putin will take part in the 19th St Petersburg International Economic Forum, hold a number of business meetings, and speak with Russian and international business community representatives.
On June 18, the President will meet with the heads of Russian industrial companies to discuss development of small and medium-sized business in Russia.
Mr Putin will hold bilateral meetings the same day with Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister of Saudi Arabia, First Vice Premier of the State Council of China Zhang Gaoli, Prime Minister of Mongolia Chimed Saikhanbileg, and IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano.
The President will complete his working day on June 18 with the traditional dinner with members of the international investment community attending the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
On June 19, Mr Putin will address the St Petersburg International Economic Forum’s plenary session. On the Forum’s sidelines that same day, he will have talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev, and will attend a working lunch with the heads of large foreign companies and business associations.
Mr Putin will meet that evening with the heads of large global news agencies taking part in the annual summit of news agencies. Russian news agency TASS launched this event as an annual global media forum last year.
This year’s St Petersburg International Economic Forum takes place under the theme: Time to Act: Shared Paths to Stability and Growth. Participation this year is up considerably on 2014. So far, 1,707 business representatives from Russia and 62 other countries have confirmed their participation (there were 1,348 in 2014). A total 970 companies will be represented, 708 of them by their directors (the corresponding figures were 824 and 609 in 2014). More countries with fast-growing economies, especially from the Asia-Pacific region, are taking part this year. Official delegations from Indonesia and Japan will take part for the first time.
Another feature of the forum’s programme this year is the diversity of international events and discussion formats. SPIEF will host business forums organised by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the BRICS group, a Business G20 consultative forum, and the ceremonies presenting the Development and Global Energy awards. The Valdai International Discussion Club will also hold a meeting on the Forum’s sidelines.