Saint-Petersburg International Economic Forum 2009

Chairman of the Board of Directors of IC “SMOLENTSEV and Partners”, Ph.D., Academician of IIA, CMC, Konstantin Y. SMOLENTSEV  has participated in World Grain Forum, carried out within the limits of St.-Petersburg International Economic Forum 2009. Its organization was initiated by the President of RF Dmitri Medvedev at the meeting of Chapters of the States and Governments – “Group of Eight” on Hokkaido Island (Japan) in June 2008. The Forum was organized by the Government of the Russian Federation and Ministry for Agriculture of RF with the support of Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nations, World bank, the European bank of reconstruction and progress, the Russian Grain Union and of some other organizations.

Opening plenary session of the Forum, first Vice-Premier of RF Viktor Zubkov has noted that carried out Forum was a platform for large-format and comprehensive discussion of risks and problems of grain market to discuss practical actions on maintaining food security in conditions of world crisis. Vice-Premier has noted that in the work of the Forum following persons are participating: President of the Russian Federation Dmitri Medvedev, heads of agrarian ministries of countries-manufacturers and consumers of grain, heads of international organizations and food institutes of UN, business representatives, scientists, experts and analytics – in total approximately 1,5 thousand people from 65 countries of the world.

First one to present at the Forum was President of Russia D. Medvedev, who expressed an opinion that “… financial, food and energy crises, unfortunately, are not only interconnected, but also give unpleasant synergy effect”, – the President said, noting that under danger now is the realization of the program “Goals of development of a millennium” on decreasing quantity of starving people in the world”. It has to be noted, that despite of busy schedule, Dmitri Medvedev has stayed in auditorium during the entire plenary session.  

The Forum has become first event of such scale not only in Russia but also in the world, and its carrying out was given special meaning in conditions of world financial-economic crises, which leads to risks’ growth of expanding scales of food crises.

Orientation of Forum’s theme to manufacture and grain market is connected to the fact that grain is the basis of agrarian economy and basic product, providing food security of the population.

Exchange of opinions within the limits of the Forum among representatives of countries-manufacturers and countries-consumers of grain, international institutions, private sector, expert and consulting community will create preconditions for development of weighted and rational approaches to solving operative as well as long-term problems of development of agriculture and providence of food security. 

Participation in the Forum of leading world experts creates preconditions to form global network of experts for scientific analysis and revealing requirements and future risks that is stipulated in the document on Global food security accepted by heads of states and governments of the Group of Eight in July, 2008.

Part of delegates, including Chairman of the Board of Directors of IC “SMOLENTSEV and Partners”, Ph.D., Academician of IIA, CMC, Konstantin Y. SMOLENTSEV, First vice-president of the Government of the Russian Federation Chairman of organizing committee of World Grain Forum VIKTOR ALEKSEEVICH ZUBKOV has invited to a Solemn Reception for the occasion of carrying out of the World Grain Forum on a Saturday evening, June 6^th, 2009 in the Governmental residence «К-2», located on Quay of the river Small Nevka on Stone island. At the end of the reception in honor of the invited persons a light and music show on “dancing” fountains and fireworks were arranged.