8000+ talk economics in St. Pete

The biggest event of the year in Saint Petersburg is underway, with more than 8000 of the world’s business and political elite gathering for the city’s 12th International Economic Forum. President Dmitry Medvedev is hosting the movers and shakers of the g

Saturday morning’s plenary session will be followed by a series of conferences dealing with climate change, energy, foreign investment and financial challenges.

Numerous presentations of new projects will be held; agreements signed, and exhibitions staged.
 
This evening, Medvedev is scheduled to meet the heads of foreign companies.

The president will also award the Global Energy Award to Russian academics Eduard Volkov and Oleg Favorsky, and Prof. Clement Bowman of Canada.

Medvedev will meet Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, and Macedonian President Branco Crvenkovski.

The most remarkable events of the forum’s cultural programme will include a concert of the National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Spivakov, gala concerts by ballet dancer Ulyana Lopatkina in the Mariinsky Theatre, and a gala show of world styling art stars in the Mikhailovsky Castle.

According to Russia’s Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, 13,000 policemen and servicemen of the Interior Troops will enforce security at the forum.