The programme architecture for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which will take place on 3–6 June 2026, has been published. The Forum’s main theme is Pragmatic Dialogue: The Path to a Stable Future.
“At a time when the old mechanisms of global regulation are losing their effectiveness, a pragmatic and equal dialogue based on mutual respect for interests is of particular value. This is precisely why the business programme architecture is structured around four key thematic areas that reflect the current state of affairs in the global economy. In this context, within the Russian section of the programme, we need to find solutions to put the country’s economy back on a growth trajectory, whilst within the international part, we need to discuss the real processes of transformation in the global economy and the transition to a multipolar model. The Forum is a platform where business, government, and civil society do not merely discuss challenges, but develop specific solutions to ensure sustainable growth and long-term stability,” noted Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the SPIEF Organizing Committee.
The thematic block A Platform for Global Growth: Shaping a New Development Model comprises two strands. Firstly, the sub-section The Global Economy: Between Confrontation and Cooperation is dedicated to finding a balance amid geopolitical tensions and regionalization. Key topics include the formation of a new model of global development, the role of the EAEU in agricultural markets, the development of multimodal logistics in Arab and African countries, the evolution of digital platforms, cooperation between the tax authorities of the BRICS countries, the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor, the transformation of tax systems, the architecture of the global energy sector, the restructuring of the global financial system, the geopolitics of finance, and the role of diplomacy in the context of global turbulence.
Secondly, the sub-section The Russian Economy: Challenges and Opportunities focuses on domestic drivers of development within the new geo-economic landscape. Priorities include the structural transformation of the economy, growth in labour productivity, technological modernization, and import substitution.
The Putting People First: A New Development Paradigm block examines the role of the individual at the heart of economic and social policy. The focus is on workforce and demographic challenges, migration policy, financial literacy, the development of engineering capacity and the education system, and the role of women in socially responsible business. There is a particular focus on the institution of the family, the digital generation, and the transformation of the labour market under the influence of artificial intelligence.
The section Raising the Quality of the Environment for Living and Growth covers issues relating to sustainable regional development and the creation of a comfortable environment. The focus is on rethinking regional development, the economics of cultural heritage, Arctic development, the shift from an environmental agenda to economic benefits, and the strengthening of cultural identity.
The Technologies Shaping the Future block is dedicated to the main trends shaping the technological competitiveness of nations and businesses. Key topics include the development of artificial intelligence, its impact on the energy sector and healthcare, robotization, digital sovereignty, and the establishment of global technological leadership.
Special attention will be given to intellectual property, digital treasury, the future of food tech, new media and the evolution of the interaction between people, and the state and business in the digital environment.
The business programme will also include business breakfasts and a series of business dialogues with the EAEU countries and ASEAN, and also with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Brazil, Germany, India, China, Moldova, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the US, Thailand, and various countries in Africa and Latin America.
In addition, a number of thematic events are planned: the G20 Business Forum, the Russian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Forum (the SME Forum), the SCO Business Forum, the BRICS Business Forum, the Day of the Future International Youth Economic Forum, the Creative Industries Forum, and the Drug Security Forum.
The detailed architecture of the SPIEF 2026 business programme is available on the Forum’s official website: forumspb.com/en.
Source: SPIEF
