The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) brought together a record number of 24,200 participants from 144 countries from June 18-21, 2025, confirming its status as an essential platform for international economic cooperation.
Themed "Shared Values: The Foundation for Growth in a Multipolar World," this 28th edition took place in a marked geopolitical context, illustrating Russia's desire to strengthen its partnerships with the Global South, particularly Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
The 2025 edition highlighted the rise of emerging countries, with a strong presence of Chinese delegations (approximately 250 participants), as well as those from Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and other strategic partners in the Global South.
More than 150 events punctuated the forum, bringing together nearly 600 international experts around key themes :
Innovative formats such as the "Day of the Future" (dedicated to youth) and the BRICS, SCO, and EAEU–ASEAN panels provided an opportunity to address the challenges and prospects of a world undergoing profound transformation.
Despite the marked absence of Western economic actors due to sanctions and geopolitical tensions, SPIEF 2025 confirmed a shift toward alternative partnerships, particularly with China, Turkey, India, and other countries of the Global South.
Agreements worth 7.5 trillion rubles (approximately USD 82 billion) were signed, primarily in the following sectors:
Beyond the economic aspect, SPIEF 2025 served as a strong political signal, conveying a message of rebalancing international relations:
Africa, which actively participated in several panels, was able to showcase its industrial, technological, and agricultural potential and develop discussions on access to training, financing of structuring projects, and the processing of raw materials.
The St. Petersburg Forum 2025 perfectly illustrates the aspirations of a multipolar world: reducing unilateral dependencies, strengthening South-South alliances, and opening up new investment opportunities.
With this in mind, it stands out as a strategic meeting place for all countries seeking lasting and equitable partnerships in a profoundly changing global economic climate.
Themed "Shared Values: The Foundation for Growth in a Multipolar World," this 28th edition took place in a marked geopolitical context, illustrating Russia's desire to strengthen its partnerships with the Global South, particularly Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
The 2025 edition highlighted the rise of emerging countries, with a strong presence of Chinese delegations (approximately 250 participants), as well as those from Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and other strategic partners in the Global South.
More than 150 events punctuated the forum, bringing together nearly 600 international experts around key themes :
- development economics
- technological innovations
- ecological sovereignty
- human capital, and social equity.
Innovative formats such as the "Day of the Future" (dedicated to youth) and the BRICS, SCO, and EAEU–ASEAN panels provided an opportunity to address the challenges and prospects of a world undergoing profound transformation.
Despite the marked absence of Western economic actors due to sanctions and geopolitical tensions, SPIEF 2025 confirmed a shift toward alternative partnerships, particularly with China, Turkey, India, and other countries of the Global South.
Agreements worth 7.5 trillion rubles (approximately USD 82 billion) were signed, primarily in the following sectors:
- infrastructure
- energy
- manufacturing
- agriculture and logistics.
Beyond the economic aspect, SPIEF 2025 served as a strong political signal, conveying a message of rebalancing international relations:
- promoting fairer and more transparent cooperation,
- respecting economic sovereignty, and
- including new centers of influence in global governance.
Africa, which actively participated in several panels, was able to showcase its industrial, technological, and agricultural potential and develop discussions on access to training, financing of structuring projects, and the processing of raw materials.
The St. Petersburg Forum 2025 perfectly illustrates the aspirations of a multipolar world: reducing unilateral dependencies, strengthening South-South alliances, and opening up new investment opportunities.
With this in mind, it stands out as a strategic meeting place for all countries seeking lasting and equitable partnerships in a profoundly changing global economic climate.