Guest book

The St Petersburg Governor Valentina Matvienko

The XI St Petersburg International Economic Forum became a key event of not only Russian, but the global economic life. The structure of participants of the latest Forum was fairly impressive - almost 9 thousand attendees from 65 countries in the world, heads of nine foreign states and three Prime Ministers being among its guests. One could claim that since June of last year, St Petersburg has become the leading Russian platform for discussion of the most topical issues of modern economy.

A wide range of important documents as regards implementation of the most important economic projects in Russia, amounting to a total sum of 13,5 billion US$, has been signed at the Forum with the participation of such worldwide-renowned companies as Volvo, Suzuki, Pepsi and Boeing. But the most significant achievement was that the Forum attendees could grasp an impartial picture of what had been going on in Russia and learn more about perspectives of its development until 2020.

The Forum became a new step in development of an economic life of St Petersburg. It has given start to very significant projects for our city. Among these is the contract between the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and New York Mercantile Exchange about creation of the International Commodities and Raw Materials Exchange in the Northern capital (so-called An Oil Stock Exchange) to be located in the historic Exchange building at the arrow of Vasilievsky Island. There is the memorandum about construction of a manufacturing plant to produce Suzuki motor vehicles; an agreement with the Eurasia Logistic Company and Capital Land (Singapore), and a number of other significant documents.

Practically all participants - and I agree with them wholeheartedly - have remarked upon the high level of the Forum's substantial part, actuality of problems and issues being discussed. It seems to me that a certain positive microclimate is developed at the Forum which facilitates carrying out of discussions. I am confident that the XII Forum will confirm my words.

As far as expectations of the forthcoming XII Forum are concerned, here is my opinion. Of course, the majority of Forum topics belong to the ‘high' economics sphere. Participants discuss some questions that can greatly influence the development of not only our country, but the whole world at large. But as the St Petersburg Governor, I am interested in discussing of questions of innovative development of regions, and attraction of investments in the most diverse areas of regional economies. At the previous Forum we have held round table discussions that elicited huge interest among their participants. I believe that any region of our country could be attractive in terms of investments. The most important thing is to choose an appropriate direction of development and make use of all opportunities we have. And the platform of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum suits best for that purpose.

The KIT Finance Investment Bank President Sergei Grechishkin

An unconditional value of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum is an opportunity of holding informal discussions with Russia's political leaders and representatives of the world's business elite. The Forum allowed me to establish personal contact with some very interesting people and these connections will be not interrupted long after it is over. As far as the Forum program is concerned, its formal part always includes actual reports and professional exchange of opinions between the leading specialists. The informal part is useful as it gives a chance of meeting with those who are otherwise extremely busy.

What with latest political changes that have taken place in this country in recent times, it would be interesting to see the new leaders of the state and the government. I believe that the most actual issues to be discussed will be linked with a difficult financial stage that has occurred in the global market. Will Russia be in any way affected by this tendency and will our country be able to remain an island of stability within the turbulent and stormy financial ocean? What is the development forecast of this new wave of financial instability? What possible repercussions is it likely to cause for the global economies?

The Glavstroy Company Director General Arthur Markarian

An exchange of opinions and experiences, discussions of ideas and tendencies - all this creates a very congenial ground for the new partnerships to be formed. Moreover, after a certain time period has passed, I actually caught myself thinking involuntarily that the St Petersburg International Economic Forum had brought the new dynamics to all processes currently taking place in this country.