A session considering the results of the Open Dialogue, which was held by the National Centre Russia, launched SPIEF-2025 and formed the basis of the Forum's business program.

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The session "Shaping a New Platform for Global Growth", based on the results of the Open Dialogue by the National Centre RUSSIA, opened the business program of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 18.

The session was moderated by Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation. The discussion was attended by internationally recognized experts from Russia, Cameroon, Spain, Azerbaijan and Canada, as well as the authors of the best essays of the Open Dialogue.

The speakers discussed the changing world order, Africa's potential, and current trends in the future of the economy, including demographic changes and the introduction of breakthrough technologies.

"This year, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is taking place against the backdrop of tumultuous events in the world. This includes the situation in the Middle East and trade wars. A lot of time will be devoted to this agenda at the forum today. We must not forget which long-term trends and challenges have led to the current situation, which trends are basic and decisive. It is important to have an open dialogue about how we can build the world of the future and how to create a new platform for global growth. In which countries will this global growth take place, on what technologies will it be built, on what principles and cultural code. Our task is to move forward for the benefit of people in all countries that, like Russia, are working on the future. It is through an open dialogue that our future and our understanding of it are being built," Maxim Oreshkin emphasized.

A speaker from Spain, Doctor of Economics, Professor at the Complutense University of Madrid, Juan Antonio de Castro de Arespacochaga, made a presentation on how the countries of the global majority are changing reality.

"Today, the countries of the global majority are not just participating in global processes — they are changing reality. We can see how an increasingly flexible and multipolar world order is taking shape. Global trade is becoming fragmented, fast and technological, and the international system is becoming a network of preferential agreements, which distorts the principles laid down in the GATT and WTO," said Juan Antonio de Castro de Arespacochaga.

One of the main topics of the discussion was "Africa — the driver of the future economic structure". Chairman of the African Advisory Council Francois Ndengwe noted that demographic growth is turning Africa into the future cradle of the global workforce.

"It's not just statistics, it's human capital, which can become a new driver of global growth. Those who are already investing in education and building universities in Africa, tomorrow they will work with Africa to shape markets and set the rules of the game," said Francois Ndengwe.

Sergey Ivanov, Executive Director and Member of the Board of Directors of EFKO Group of Companies, spoke about the new responsibility of business in the modern world. The expert stressed that business today is not just a profit generator, but an active participant in social transformations.

"What projects and technologies should we invest in today? The investment criteria are three conditions: to improve human life qualitatively, to be produced in harmony with nature, and to be accessible — at least to have the potential for mass production. But it's much more important not only what you produce, but also in what culture you do it. In 2012, the President said the words that I have often quoted lately. He said that the great mission of Russians is to unite and consolidate civilization with culture, language, and universal responsiveness. And so we try to build our culture and our ethics around this very universal responsiveness. To build capitalism with a human face," Sergei Ivanov said.

Breakthrough technologies became another focus of the session "Shaping a new platform for global growth". As Yuri Kozarenko, General Director of Transport of the Future LLC, noted, automation has reached a level today when robots create robots to produce goods and services for humans.

"This year has become significant, it shows a breakthrough in the technological development of the artificial intelligence. Several centers, schools, and institutes have been opened in China to train robots in various specialties. In Russia, in turn, we are opening robot training centers in the Samara Region and Moscow, including the Institute of Unmanned Systems. We teach robots to bring social benefits in a cost-effective way," emphasized Yuri Kozarenko.

The expert added that such technological innovations today have a direct impact on social spheres, for example, they help to solve, among other things, the demographic crisis.

During the session, the participants also discussed the report of the results of the Open Dialogue prepared by the Centre for Interdisciplinary Expertise "Third Rome". The conclusions of the session "Shaping a new platform for Global Growth" became the basis for the subsequent SPIEF 2025 business program. The recording of the broadcast of the session "Shaping a new platform for global growth" can be viewed on the website of the National Centre RUSSIA.