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$100 billion worth of deals signed at Russia “Davos”
Putin touts Russia’s independence from the West
The Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) known as Russia’s “Davos” saw more than 5.6 trillion rubles ($99.8 billion) worth of deals signed the executive secretary of the SPIEF organising committee and Kremlin adviser Anton Kobyakov told newsmen on Saturday. This year’s forum drew over 14,000 participants from a 130 countries with the theme of ‘New Opportunities in a New World’.
“By now 691 agreements worth 5.639 trillion rubles have been signed. Of course, we only announce figures that are not commercial classified information,” he said hinting that more secret deals worth billions were signed a slap in the face of western sanctions.
“Around 14,000 people representing 130 countries, including Russia, participated in the forum, 79 countries sent official representatives,” Kobyakov said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart K. Tokayev and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the plenary session. At the session Putin told participants that sovereignty was very important for Russia or else in a few years they will have to buy everything and produce only hemp.
“To be independent, sovereign and ensure development for the future, now and for future generations. If we do not have sovereignty, then in the near future we will have to buy everything and we will produce only oil, gas, hemp, saddles.” He said.
The Russian President also said at the forum which ended Saturday that Russia will learn how to make its own like the western goods disappearing from the market. “Russia will learn to produce goods that are now disappearing from the market as a result of Western sanctions. They will continue to sell to us packaging and other such things, even telephones and smartphone. But they have never shared and will never share critically important technologies with us.”
“It is pretty clear that the blitzkrieg against our economy has failed. As Mark Twain once remarked, ‘”The report of my death was an exaggeration’,” Putin said.
At the forum Putin also unveiled six principles to guide Russia through a turbulent time. “These are openness, reliance on freedoms of entrepreneurship, balanced macroeconomic policy, social justice, advanced development of infrastructure and achievement of technological sovereignty.” he pointed out.
Source AP/TASS
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