23 January 2014
Participants of the 3rd Europe+Asia Event Forum discussed the prospects for the development of the meetings industry in St. Petersburg.
According to the member of the Government of St. Petersburg, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg Alexander Prokhorenko, meetings industry is not just a growing industry that attracts investment in the region, but it also improves the image of the Northern capital in the international arena. He recalled that the largest international meetings are held in St. Petersburg: G20, G8, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the International Legal Forum and the International Cultural Forum. The Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg has initiated business meetings; in particular, an event to expand contacts and opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses - St. Petersburg Partneriate is held under the auspices of the Committee. In March 2014, the event will take place for the eighth time. St. Petersburg Partneriate is co-organised by RESTEC® Events.
Alexander Prokhorenko noted that the region is actively developing cooperation with the Asia-Pacific countries. New joint projects are implemented in the area of meeting industry. In particular, it is planned to open a modern convention centre in the Baltic Pearl residential complex, which is being built with the participation of companies of China. The new convention centre will be designed for 7,000 people. It is expected that the number of international events held in St. Petersburg will increase by 5 times by 2020. By this time, more than 180 major events will be held on a regular basis in the Northern Capital.
