SPIEF-2026: the main topics, participants, agreements and importance of the forum for business and logistics

SPIEF-2026: Why all business is now looking at St. Petersburg

From 3 to 6 June, St. Petersburg hosts the XXIX St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the largest business event in Russia and one of the most influential economic events in Eurasia. This year the forum is held under the motto Pragmatic dialogue is a path to a stable future. The organizers expect more than 20 thousand participants from more than 100 countries, and according to some estimates, the geography of the forum exceeds 130 countries and territories.

For most people, SPIEF is associated with high-profile speeches, statements by top officials of the state and multibillion-dollar agreements. However, the real value of the forum is much wider.

Today SPIEF is a place where new international trade routes are formed, major infrastructure contracts are concluded, logistics, energy, technology, finance and international cooperation are discussed.

That is why the forum has long been called the “Russian Davos”, although its role has changed significantly in recent years. If earlier the main task was to attract Western investments, today SPIEF is becoming a platform for the formation of a new economic architecture of Eurasia and the Global South.

SPIEF in figures

A few facts that allow us to understand the real scale of the event:

• more than 20,000 participants;
• over 100 States Parties;
• More than 150 business sessions;
• hundreds of agreements and investment contracts;
• dozens of ministers, governors and heads of major companies;
• thousands of representatives of business, banking sector and industry;
• One of the largest business exhibitions in Eastern Europe.

In fact, for a few days St. Petersburg became the world center of negotiations between states, investors, industrialists, exporters and logistics operators.

The main topic of the forum: pragmatism instead of ideology

The theme of SPIEF-2026 is:

Pragmatic dialogue is the path to a stable future.

At first glance, the wording seems diplomatic. However, behind it lies an important signal for business.

If a few years ago the world economy was built around globalization and single markets, today the world is experiencing a period of:

• trade restrictions;
• sanctions pressure;
• Transformation of logistics chains;
• regionalization of markets;
• competition of technological platforms;
• Fight for resources and transport corridors.

Therefore, the main question of the forum sounds as practical as possible:

How to develop the economy and international trade in the new world order?

Who came to SPIEF-2026

The composition of the forum is traditionally impressive.

At the forum sites work:

State delegations

• Russia;
• China;
• Saudi Arabia;
• Brazil;
• India;
• Uzbekistan;
• Mongolia;
• Philippines;
• Laos;
• countries of the Middle East;
• States of Africa;
• Latin American countries.

Federal authority

The forum is attended by:

• President of Russia;
• members of the Government of the Russian Federation;
• heads of federal ministries;
• heads of state corporations;
• representatives of the Central Bank;
• Leaders of major development institutions.

Russian regions

Almost every subject of the Russian Federation is represented by its own delegation.

For SPIEF governors, this is an opportunity:

• attract investors;
• to present industrial parks;
• sign agreements;
• find partners for new productions;
• Get federal support for projects.

What issues are discussed at SPIEF

Many people mistakenly believe that the forum is a platform for investment.

In fact, the topic covers almost the entire economy.

International trade

Particular attention is paid to:

• development of trade with Asian countries;
• interaction with BRICS;
• cooperation with the Middle East;
• new export routes;
• settlements in national currencies.

Logistics

For the logistics industry, the forum is of particular interest.

Among the key issues:

• development of the Northern Sea Route;
• International North-South Transport Corridor;
• railway infrastructure;
• container transportation;
• port development;
• Digitalization of logistics;
• Customs administration.

It is here that projects that subsequently change the map of cargo flows between Europe, Asia and the Middle East are discussed.

Industry

Main topics:

• import substitution;
• localization of production;
• robotics;
• Industrial automation;
• development of mechanical engineering;
• new production clusters.

Finance.

The financial block is traditionally one of the most discussed.

Participants analysed:

• exchange rate policy;
• international settlements;
• digital currencies;
• investment instruments;
• development of the stock market;
• raising capital.

Why Businesses Are Watching Signing Agreements

For journalists, the main event of the forum is news.

For business, the main event of the forum is contracts.

Every year, agreements worth hundreds of billions of rubles are signed at SPIEF.

Many of them directly affect the market.

After the forum, usually start:

• new factories;
• transport corridors;
• logistic terminals;
• port facilities;
• agro-industrial projects;
• energy facilities;
• Digital platforms.

In fact, a significant part of future investments first appear on the forum platform.

China, Middle East and BRICS countries – new focus

One of the most notable trends in recent years has been the change in the international structure of participants.

If earlier the key foreign guests were European companies, today the center of business activity is shifting to:

• China;
• India;
• countries of the Persian Gulf;
• States of Southeast Asia;
• Africa;
• Latin America.

Saudi Arabia has received a special status of a guest country of SPIEF-2026. This highlights the growing role of the Middle East in global trade, investment and logistics.

For Russian exporters, this means the emergence of new markets, and for logistics companies – new international routes.

What is especially important for participants

For companies working with China, India, BRICS countries and the Middle East, SPIEF has long been a platform for practical solutions.

This is where the discussion is:

• development of settlements in national currencies;
• Simplification of trade procedures;
• creation of new transport corridors;
• modernization of port infrastructure;
• construction of logistics hubs;
• international investment projects.

For participants of foreign economic activity, many decisions of the forum subsequently directly affect the cost and speed of cargo delivery.

Why SPIEF is called a barometer of the economy

There is a simple rule.

If you carefully follow the agenda of the forum, you can understand which areas will receive state support in the coming years.

Today, among such areas are particularly distinguished:

1. Logistics and international transport corridors.
2. Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy.
3. Industrial automation.
4. Exports and foreign trade.
5. The agro-industrial complex.
6. Energy.
7. Technological sovereignty.
8. Infrastructure construction.
9. Arctic projects.
10. International cooperation within BRICS.

These topics form the basis for most discussions and investment agreements.

The main importance of SPIEF-2026

Today, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum can no longer be considered exclusively as a Russian event.

It becomes a platform for the formation of a new economic map of Eurasia, where the interests of states, investors, producers, exporters and logistics operators intersect.

It discusses not only investment but also the future of global trade, transport routes, energy, technology and international cooperation.

Therefore, for business, SPIEF is not just a forum.

It is a place where it becomes clear which industries will grow tomorrow, which markets will open the day after tomorrow, and in which direction the global economy will move in the coming years.