By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Between 7,000-8,000 people are expected to attend the 12th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum June 6-8, Russia’s economics minister has said.
Conducted under the auspices – and with participation – of the Russian president, the forum annually gathers world leaders to discuss important economic issues facing Russia and the international community.
“We estimate the total number of participants will be seven to eight thousand people, including over a thousand heads from major Russian and foreign companies, and we expect some 300 high-ranking foreign delegates,” Elvira Nabiullina said Wednesday.
She refused to elaborate on a report due to be delivered at the forum by president-elect Dmitry Medvedev.
“Let’s not ruin the intrigue. Why reveal what will be discussed at the forum, the details and proposals,” the minister said.
She said Russia’s long-term development prospects would be a key issue, as will “decisions to be made in the near future”, she added.
She said the forum’s agenda would be discussed at an organising committee session later Wednesday, adding that the programme is traditionally divided into two parts – international and Russian.
The “international” plenary session on day one, June 7, will be titled National Economic Interests and Global Governance Institutions. It will also feature a roundtable on the CIS and economic cooperation within the CIS framework.
The “Russia day” will address key economic challenges – infrastructure development, innovation, and manpower. Separate attention will be given to international politics and globalisation of Russian business, the minister said.
Participants include presidents, prime ministers, heads of governments and ministers from a number of countries, as well as international business leaders, chief editors from the biggest global media publications and other newsmakers.
A foundation stone is to be laid for South Korean auto giant Hyundai’s plant in St. Petersburg in June as part of the economic forum, Governor Valentina Matviyenko said earlier Wednesday.
“We will lay the foundation stone for a Hyundai plant within the framework of the forum. It has become a good tradition at the forum to unveil or break ground on a new facility,” the governor said.
She said several investment agreements would be signed during the conference, which she called “a blessing for the city”.