"American and European partners arrived regardless of the sanctions"

The Northern capital is once again hosting one of the largest and most significant business events in the world — the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Alexander Beglov, the Governor of St. Petersburg, spoke at the Izvestia studio during the SPIEF about the specifics of preparations for the forum and the main directions of the city's development.

"Investments in the development of historical memory are very important for us"

— The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum of 2026 has started. In your opinion, what are the features of this year? What did you have to adjust during the preparation? What are the priorities and what has been given special attention?

— Practically nothing had to be adjusted, because a good job was done. We had good contacts with all the participants. A huge number of representatives of foreign countries came to visit us. American and European partners came to us regardless of sanctions or any political squabbles. They are all here, we work with them with great pleasure.

The most important thing is a good forum environment. She's friendly, she's comfortable. Official meetings are held. But there is also direct communication, just companionship, friendly communication. And this is very important.

As for the main events, the city has done everything necessary, together with the federal center and the security forces, to ensure the safety of the forum. In addition to security, this includes healthcare, transport, and an engineering structure. And much, much more. In other words, the city has prepared well for the forum. Judging by the statements of the participants, they are satisfied.

— How has SPIEF 2026 transformed compared to previous years, and what are the highlights at the St. Petersburg stand today?

— If we talk about the St. Petersburg stand, it is precisely advanced technologies that are presented there, because the president has set the task of high-tech production, high wages, overcoming the backlog in industry, science, and all other areas. But I want to say that St. Petersburg has already overcome this bar and is developing further.

If you look at our stand, first of all it is robotics. Then there are unmanned systems, including unmanned crews of surface vessels. This is, of course, pharmaceuticals. This is the manufacture of various products for people with disabilities — a megaproject that is currently developing in our city. And, of course, the development of investments in our cultural activities, the preservation of the historical sites of our city.

We have presented a wonderful project — this is a former prison, the so-called "Crosses". It would seem that such a depressing object, for many years no one has taken it up. Nevertheless, we have found an investor who today presented a corresponding project with hotels, museums, restaurants, and a large public space. This is a very interesting project, and we fully support it.

Of course, it should be recalled that St. Petersburg has been declared a city of culture. This year we celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth of Shostakovich and Likhachev. Therefore, all these investments that are being made in the development of historical memory and the culture of the city are very important to us.

— You said that big projects are one of the development priorities. As for the ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the new facility, which was supposed to take place yesterday. As far as I remember, it was rescheduled. Will it take place within the framework of the forum?

— It was postponed for technical reasons. Tomorrow we are laying the foundation stone for a new drawbridge as part of the Latitudinal Highway. This will be the second bridge. The first bridge, Bolshoy Smolensky, has already been completed by 80%, and it is possible to walk across this bridge tomorrow. Then we'll move on to laying the foundation stone.

In total, the city is planning five drawbridges jointly with the Leningrad Region. There is one bridge in the Leningrad Region, in the Otradnoye area, and four bridges directly in St. Petersburg.

"We are attracting smart investments that make it possible to develop our city"

— What are your plans for this forum and what investment areas would you mention?

— Today we are attracting investments that develop the high-tech industries of our city. A very important point is the creation of high—paying jobs and high-tech jobs. And the field is robotics, space, medicine, the development of large public spaces like Kresty or Marina. That's why we are attracting smart investments that make it possible to develop our city.

— What are the main trends in the development of St. Petersburg in the near future?

— The locomotive of our city's economy is the development of industry and the creation of new high—tech industries. That's the most important thing. This is our economy. Jobs must be created. Conditions for taxation and conditions for attracting investments should be created.

Then, of course, the transport system, the transport framework of our city. If you have noticed, a large number of transport routes are currently being built, so to speak, outbound ones. What will it give us? By 2032, we want it to be possible to get from every remote area to the city center in 15 minutes. This is possible, which is why we are building flyover-type highways that give us the opportunity to bypass traffic lights and bypass the center above the infrastructure.

An important issue is the development of medicine. But I want to mention something else. Investments, of course, are good, they need to be attracted and developed by the city, but we also need to repay debts to the older generation. And our Silver Age program is one of the important points, because representatives of the silver age worked in this city, they created for us the assets and the opportunity that we use today, so we need to give them priority, create conditions for them, which we are doing.

It is also very important not to forget about the future. And the future is our younger generation. Therefore, we need to invest in the development of our future generation — the creation of laboratories, kindergartens, schools, colleges. This is the creation of completely new mechanisms for the education of our future generation, so that children grow up to be highly qualified specialists and, of course, patriots of our country and our city.

"It is very important to get to know each other, make friends, and find new partners"

— Final question. What are your wishes for all SPIEF 2026 participants?

— First of all, of course, health, success, good luck. It is very important to get to know each other, make friends, and find new partners. But it is also very important to find time to walk around our city. The weather is wonderful, the best theaters, museums, cafes, exhibitions are waiting for you. Take a walk, take a look, get some air. The lilacs have not yet faded and you can take a walk along the Champ de Mars.