Representatives of almost 100 countries will take part in SPIEF 2025

The final preparations for the opening of the International Economic Forum, which will be attended by representatives of almost 100 countries, are being completed in St. Petersburg. Last time, more than a thousand agreements worth over 6 trillion rubles were signed at the forum. Maxim Oblender, a correspondent for Izvestia, spoke about the current expectations from the SPIEF and the stages of preparation.

"There are more than 6,000 square meters of new exhibition space and, of course, new restaurants," said Alexey Valkov, Director of the SPIEF and Deputy Director of the Roscongress Foundation.

According to him, the main restaurant of the forum this year was located in a separate two-storey pavilion on the street.

"One set will cost the guests 6,500 rubles, the emphasis was on local cuisine, but at the same time, Italian chefs also had a hand in creating the menu," the correspondent said.

In the restaurant "Varevo" with Old Russian cuisine, located on the seventh floor, and the price tag is much higher. For 6800 they will offer you this kind of crab meat, for 2300 they will offer you a rooster's ear.

"Over the past few years, representatives of the Chinese automotive industry have been becoming the official vehicles of the forum. The forum has never had such a big jeep," the correspondent emphasized.

It is reported that technical innovations have even been given a separate place. A robot concierge greets the guests. A new "Buy Russian" zone, an "Agro Cluster", dozens of meeting rooms and plenary sessions. Last year, the participants signed agreements worth more than 6 trillion rubles.

"The multimedia information center Izvestia is represented by a television studio. One works for live broadcasts, and the second studio works for meetings with guests," explained Svetlana Korol, project manager for the implementation of the Izvestia exhibition stand.

SPIEF 2025: dates, program and participants, Putin's speech

Russia's main international economic forum will be held in the second half of June.

On June 15, Anton Gribanov, the chef of the Forum restaurant, said that this year at the SPIEF, a set of appetizers, soup, hot, dessert and drink will be presented for one person at a fixed price of 6.5 thousand rubles. At the moment, active preparations for the event are underway at the forum site. This year, representatives from over 92 countries will come to St. Petersburg for the SPIEF.