ET: Given the geopolitical landscape, what role does SPIEF play in fostering international trade cooperation?
Alexey Valkov: The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is an effective communication tool between business and government. This year, it focused on developing business ties and expanding contacts with trading partners from the CIS countries, the Arab world, India, China, the EAEU-ASEAN, and Latin America, who, together with Russia, have begun to form a new space of trust based on the principles of equal partnership.
Talking about the specific achievements of SPIEF 2023, this year we managed to gather more than 17,000 participants from 130 countries in 4 days. In total, we have hosted 150 high-ranking foreign officials, as well as more than 6,000 representatives of Russian and foreign businesses. In addition, this year, SPIEF participants signed 900 agreements totalling 3.860 trillion rubles.
ET: How has SPIEF facilitated trade and economic relations between India and Russia?
AV: Holding events such as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum contributes not only to setting up a friendly dialogue between the two countries but also leads to concrete decisions, which, as a rule, are implemented. For example, Russian-Indian projects in mining, shipbuilding, gas chemistry, logistics and pharmaceuticals are being discussed at the event. In 2023, thanks to joint efforts, we also held the Russian-Indian Business Forum in Delhi. Its logical continuation was the development of a format similar to the framework formulated at SPIEF 2023, which subsequently resulted in the signing of cooperation agreements between the Roscongress Foundation and organisations like the Forum for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME Development Forum), the Indian Chamber of International Business (ICIB), the country’s trade facilitation agency Invest India and the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI). The willingness to comprehensively support and facilitate the organisation of new formats of interaction is an indicator of interest in dialogue and the opportunity to open new growth points between our countries.
ET: What initiatives are being undertaken by SPIEF to encourage and support joint projects between Indian and Russian businesses?
AV: The Forum is primarily an event that allows participants to find and develop new contacts and new projects. In our business, it is important to provide an opportunity for participants to discuss the general principles of working in the market of a potential partner and his requests, to establish personal contacts in the environment. No matter how electronic communication channels develop, allowing you to solve many issues remotely, personal contact and meetings remain the key factors for successful development. At the Forum, companies can meet with potential investors, partners and customers. It brings together all sectors of the economy, with thousands of Russian and international companies on its site. Each participant of the event goes to the SPIEF to find a new mutually beneficial cooperation. An Indian company wishing to participate will succeed at the SPIEF if it identifies which partners it is interested in and how it can present itself correctly. It is important to identify priority industries and directions in advance. The forum opens up serious prospects for Indian companies planning their activities to enter the export market.
The Roscongress Foundation, as the organiser, tries to ensure that each participant achieves their business goals. For example, we help organise meetings with the companies and representatives of Russian government authorities. The main thing is that Indian businesses come to us with a specific request, and we will consider various options for cooperation. However, I would like to emphasise that the St. Petersburg Forum is primarily a platform that creates all the conditions for businesses to get to know and cooperate, but the result always depends on the companies themselves and their interest in a specific partnership.
ET: Can you share any data on the increase in participating companies and the value of business agreements signed after the pandemic?
AV: More than 17,000 participants from 130 countries of the world gathered at SPIEF in 4 days. This is 28% more than last year. In addition, 900 agreements worth more than $42 billion were signed within the framework of SPIEF 2023, which is 205 more agreements than last year. And these are only agreements that are not a trade secret.
