The 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025) has emerged as a pivotal moment for Russia-Africa relations, as high-level African delegations joined over 20,000 global participants in a powerful display of economic dialogue, partnership-building, and multilateral cooperation under the theme: “Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World.”
Held in Russia’s second-largest city, SPIEF 2025 offered African leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators an influential platform to explore trade opportunities, deepen bilateral ties, and contribute to shaping a new global economic order. The forum underscored Russia’s ambition to position itself as a reliable partner for African nations amid shifting geopolitical tides.
From bustling exhibition halls to strategic deal-making rooms, African participants took part in hundreds of business sessions, including the dedicated Russia-Africa Business Dialogue. Discussions spanned key areas such as investment, digital innovation, human capital development, and trade liberalization. These interactions sought to strengthen economic bridges and promote sustainable development in Africa through mutually beneficial cooperation.
A standout initiative was the Roscongress International Cooperation Area in Pavilion H, a high-level space designed for global networking among government officials, industry leaders, and investors. South Africa, notably, received special recognition, reflecting the country’s growing strategic partnership with Moscow.
Tandiwe Thelma Mgxwati, South Africa’s Charge d’Affaires in Russia, hailed the forum as an avenue for building stronger South-South relations and deepening collaboration on global development issues. Discussions between Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and South African Vice President Paul Mashatile further emphasized areas of future cooperation—ranging from agriculture and energy to the digital economy.
Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Russian Presidential Executive Office, highlighted Africa’s long-term significance to the global economy. He noted that by mid-century, a quarter of the world’s working-age population will reside in Africa, making the continent’s educational and technological progress vital to humanity’s collective future.
Professor Irina Abramova of the Russian Academy of Sciences led a panel of African ministers and thought leaders who reflected on the progress of Russia-Africa relations since the inaugural 2019 and 2023 summits. While celebrating achievements, they also explored ways to address trade imbalances, improve scientific cooperation, and scale educational exchanges.
The forum’s youth-focused agenda, titled “Day of the Future,” brought together young leaders from over 100 countries, highlighting Africa’s rising generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. Organized in partnership with the Friends for Leadership network and accredited by the UN ECOSOC, this segment addressed critical issues like education, health, and social policy in the context of future global leadership.
Alexey Valkov, Director of SPIEF, emphasized Africa’s growing role at the forum:
“Our collaboration with African partners continues to deepen. From business roundtables to cultural diplomacy, we’re fostering long-term partnerships that support inclusive global growth.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his opening message, reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to sovereign development and mutual respect among nations. He emphasized Russia’s pursuit of equitable international cooperation across demographics, science, healthcare, and social protection.
The forum is projected to generate contracts and agreements worth over US$100 billion, particularly in areas such as infrastructure modernization, digital transformation, import substitution, and partnerships with regions like Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
As the Petersburg Seasons cultural festival and SPIEF Sports Games added vibrancy to the proceedings, the message was clear—SPIEF 2025 was not only a marketplace of ideas and investments but a stage where emerging alliances and a multipolar future are being shaped.
Russia’s renewed engagement with Africa signals a shift toward deeper, more strategic economic cooperation. As the world navigates complex changes, forums like SPIEF serve as critical bridges for collaboration, resilience, and shared prosperity in the decades ahead.
