Saudi Arabia main guest of honor at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which begins Wednesday

RIYADH — The Kremlin announced that Saudi Arabia will be the main guest of honor at the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026, which runs from June 3 to June 6. This high-level participation coincides with the 100th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia. The Russian presidency confirmed that Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman will lead a high-level delegation comprising senior government officials, representatives from major national institutions and companies, most notably Saudi Aramco. Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef includes among the members of the delegation. The forum, under the theme “Pragmatic dialogue: The path to a stable future” will be held at the ExpoForum Exhibition and Convention Center, with the participation of 130 countries. Anton Kobyakov, advisor to the Russian president, noted that Saudi Arabia’s participation will give new impetus to the strategic partnership between Moscow and Riyadh in the energy, industry, transportation, finance, and high-tech sectors. The SPIEF, organized by the Roscongress Foundation under the auspices of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is the nation’s premier business event and a geopolitical and economic tool for consolidating Russia's global orientation towards the Global South. The forum's agenda directly reflects profound changes in the global economy and shifts in established mechanisms of international cooperation. The event brings together more than 150 sessions. The official business program is divided into four main thematic areas: the global economy: a new platform for global growth; the Russian economy: a new level of growth; technology: the pursuit of leadership; and humanity in the new world. In addition, the event will include more than 15 bilateral dialogues with countries and regional blocs, along with the Roscongress International Cooperation platform and the SPIEF Investment and Business Exhibition. The SPIEF Junior Forum will be the major highlight of the concluding day. The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, founded in 1997, is Russia's premier annual economic conference. The forum brings together heads of state, finance ministers, and CEOs of Russian and international companies to discuss the economic challenges facing emerging markets and the global economy. The 2025 forum had set a record with 24,200 participants from 144 countries and signing of agreements worth 89 billion.