Russia is trying to convince, during this event, that it remains a credible economic partner despite the war in Ukraine and the sanctions. Behind the facade, large foreign companies, especially Western, shine above all by their absence.
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Vladimir Putin will pronounce, Friday, June 20, his traditional closing speech of the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Friday June 20. This meeting, which has existed for twenty-eight years, symbolized economic development and openness to the world of the country after the fall of the Soviet Union. Despite the war, the sanctions or the signs of recession arriving, Russian leaders tried since Wednesday to prove that their country was not isolated, that it was always attractive.
There is a lot of question, in the aisles of the Saint Petersburg Forum, western companies that left the country by the thousands three years ago. In February, Kirill Dimitriev, the special envoy of Vladimir Putin for economic affairs, promised it: American companies were about to return to Russia, thanks to the return of Donald Trump. He said it again on Thursday. “We work for the dialogue between Russia and the United States to progresssaid Kirill Dimitriev. We note that many questions have been asked about American investors and US companies who came to strengthen their presence on the Russian market and invest in Russia. “
But at the end of the Russian-USA conference, forbidden to journalists, the very pro-Russian Agee, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, seemed much more measured: “The companies that have left the market are thinking about the possibility of a return. I would not say that there is a long queue on this subject currently, but they observe and await a signal.”
Under cover of anonymity, several experts confirm this: no American company seriously plans to return to a market as risky as Russia. Besides, some Russian leaders do not even pretend to believe it, such as Denis Mantourov, who was asked what Western businesses come back to: “That they help us to remove the sanctions first, and then we will discuss.”
At the top of Russian power, the trend is 100% Russian. The country must develop in all sectors. A necessity because even large companies in friendly countries-China, India-were absent this week in Saint Petersburg. The forum was mainly a Russian interior, a potemkine village with few high-level foreign delegations. Only one head of state will accompany Vladimir Putin on stage on Friday afternoon: Indonesian President Prabowo suffered.
