SECOND DAY OF ST PETERSBURG ECONOMIC FORUM TO BE DEVOTED TO RUSSIA

ST.PETERSBURG, June 8 (Itar-Tass) - The second day of the 12th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be devoted to Russia. Global challenges and opportunities up to 2020 will be the topics of a plenary meeting. Elvira Nabiullina, the head of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, will conduct it while First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov will deliver the main report. Russia's leading experts on modern economy intend to analyse the weak and strong sides of the Russian economy, economic challenges of the 21st century and prospects for turning Russia into a key economic player and reliable partner. The second day of work will be devoted to the four priorities of the development of the Russian economy as Medvedev outlined them. They include innovations, investments, infrastructure and the institutes of development. A special working session is devoted to the foreign economic strategy of Russia and globalisation of Russian business. Six roundtable meetings will be held in the afternoon. The subjects will include corporate management, the development of small business, Russia's image abroad, housing construction, the introduction of new technologies as well as the promotion of charitable activities in Russia. Dozens of presentations will be held and many contracts worth $10 billion are expected to be signed.