The central theme of the Forum is the effectiveness of the work and the qualitative growth of the SME sector. At sessions, debates, classrooms and workshops, participants will discuss the development priorities of small and medium-sized businesses, including how companies successfully use lessons learned and move from micro to small businesses, from small to medium and SME+. The Forum of SMEs is organized by the Roscongress Foundation and the ROSSIA OPERA.

" Small and medium-sized enterprise plays an important role in the structural changes of our economy. The Government is making great efforts, together with business associations, to improve the entrepreneurial climate and creates conditions for the implementation of the national project " Themal and Secondary Entrepreneurship and support for the individual entrepreneurial initiative " , which was approved in 2020 pursuant to the Presidential Decree on National Development Goals of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030. According to the public organization, OORA ROSSIA, the country has a middle class of respect and trust in society, namely entrepreneurs and their employees, as well as self-employed persons. At the PEIF site of the SME Forum, we will raise current business issues and discuss the mechanisms for the international engagement of the business community for its development.” We have emphasized the President of the Russian Federation ' s adviser, the responsible secretary of the Anton Kobayakov PETF.

Four clusters of the programme ' s programmes will open up the theme of quality SME growth: external economic activity, graduation, business promotion strategies and sectoral development. The Forum ' s central event is a plenary session entitled " Promoting quality growth: strategies and tools for SMEs " . The outcome of the business programme of the event will also be summarized here. More than 20 thematic sessions are scheduled for the Forum as a whole.

The activities of the PRG: GROS will be devoted to discussing the partnership between business and State for the qualitative development of business, as well as to responding to the key challenge for SMEs, human hunger and the retention of skilled professionals. In the financial debate, experts will share a vision of borrowing and capital. In TED presentations, participants will look at the need for small business for growth.

In the thematic cluster of " OTRACLI " , experts, together with entrepreneurs, will discuss one of the priority areas: the sectoral development of small and medium-sized businesses. This issue will, among others, be raised at the session " Trade - Enterprise: Economic Impact on the Country " . Also at the beverages and workshops will tell how enterprises are promoting their brands today and what mechanisms SMEs can use to develop their own productions to achieve technological sovereignty.

The Master Classes and Workshops of the " DEVID " Unit are aimed at developing professional competences and entrepreneurial skills. Experts will learn how to use artificial intelligence in business, attract investors, and present modern approaches to productivity.

In the " RO: WED " cluster will discuss the potential of Russian small businesses for export and what tools are needed by entrepreneurs in the short term to develop international cooperation with partners. Sessions will focus on the interaction between the Russian and Chinese SMEs and the Arab world. Experts will also raise the question of what will replace WTO, IMF and the dollar.

The Forum will also discuss opportunities for the development and cooperation of Russian and foreign small and medium-sized businesses. In the framework of the International Cooperation Day of SMEs, participants will be able to meet potential partners and co-inventors and share their experiences.

" Traditionally, the Petersburg International Economic Forum begins its work by discussing the small and medium-sized business agenda, the foundation of the Russian economy. This year ' s business programme of the SME Forum will address the full range of themes that focus on quality growth, the necessary tools and support measures that will help to encourage business to develop its enterprises and communities, increase productivity, international partnerships and, in general, our economy. We expect more than 1,000 participants from all regions of Russia on the SME Forum sites. I am convinced that the outcome of the event will provide all Forum participants and guests with useful experience and new business linkages that will be able to integrate into their work, noted by President Aleksandr Kalinin, ROSSIO.

The 27th Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held from 5 to 8 June 2024.

Photo source: Official website of the Petersburg International Economic Forum.

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Entrepreneurs ' support is provided through the national project " Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurship " and support for the individual business initiative.