page_title: St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
section_title: SPIEF timeline
hierarchical_section_title: St. Petersburg International Economic Forum / SPIEF timeline
caption_attribution_description: English: St Petersburg International Economic Forum plenary meeting
context_page_description: The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is an annual Russian business event for the economic sector, which has been held in St. Petersburg since 1997, and under the auspices of the Russian President since 2005. Each year, more than 10,000 people from over 120 different countries take part. The Forum brings together the chief executives of major Russian and international companies, heads of state, political leaders, prime ministers, deputy prime ministers, departmental ministers, and governors.
  The key purpose of the Forum is to provide a practical tool for business, helping to overcome the barriers, both geographical and informational, dividing Russia and other countries.
context_section_description: I St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
  The Forum was held on June 18–20, 1997 under the auspices of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of CIS Member States and with the support of the Russian government. It was attended by more than 1,500 people from 50 countries. During the Forum, the governments of Russia and Belarus signed loan agreements totaling 500 billion roubles.
  II St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
  The Forum was held on June 17–19, 1998 under the auspices of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of CIS Member States and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. The Forum, held as an annual event for the first time, was attended by some 2,600 people, including leaders of CIS member-states, and representatives of 36 major international organizations, including the Council of Europe, the United Nations, and UNESCO. In addition, the Forum was attended by prominent Russian scholars, as well as heads of Russian and international private financial institutions.
  During the Forum, 700 investment projects were agreed on, and 52 agreements and protocols on investments totaling approximately US$1 billion were signed.
  III St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
  The Forum was held on June 16–17, 1999 under the auspices of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of CIS Member States, as well as with the support of the Russian President and Government. The Forum was attended by more than 2,000 people. Among the most memorable events of the Forum was the exhibition on Regional Markets of Russia and CIS countries, and the presentation of the Greater Volga and Siberian Agreement inter-regional associations for economic interaction between federal subjects of the RF.
  IV St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
  The Forum was held on June 13–15, 2000 under the motto "Strategies for the XXI Century: Concerted Efforts in the Interests of Creativity and Sustainable Development". The Forum was attended by more than 2,200 people from 57 countries, including Belarus, Ukraine, Germany, China, Egypt, Brazil, and Peru.  Forum participants included the UN Under Secretary General, Mark Brown; Acting President of the EBRD, Charles Frank; and representatives of OSCE and other international organizations and institutions. During the Forum, a Moscow-Paris teleconference dedicated to a number of social and economic problems was organized,  which was attended by members of the Federation Council of Russia, and French senators, as well as prominent thought leaders and public figures of the two countries.
  V St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
  The Forum was held on June 12–16, 2001 under the motto "The XXI Century: Innovative Development for the Benefit of Humanity". By 2001, the Forum's status had grown significantly. It was officially recognized as the primary economic conference for the CIS. The presidents of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan sent letters of welcome to Forum participants. The Forum was attended by Czech Prime Minister Miloš Zeman and Chairman of the Parliament of Romania Nicolae Vacaroiu. In addition, representatives of the IMF and IBRD were in attendance.
  VI St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
  The Forum was held on June 18–22, 2002 under the motto "Russia and the CIS; Moving Towards Sustainable Development — Issues of Governance". The Forum was attended by more than 2,000 representatives of Russia and 40 foreign countries (including the CIS). The Forum programme included presentations of investment projects, exhibitions, and business negotiations that culminated in of contracts and agreements signing. The main result of the Forum was the further improvement of international economic relations. The VI Forum differed from previous Forums not only in its strategic focus, but also in its pragmatic approach. Issues of future investment in Russia and CIS countries were touched on as well.
  VII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
  The Foru
caption: Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum  in 2017.
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