Russian Consulate in Cape Town

#Announcement 🔉Call for Essays: Open Dialogue “The Future of the World” Open Dialogue is a global platform uniting experts, policymakers, academics, business leaders, and journalists to shape a shared agenda for sustainable global growth with a focus on the interests of the Global Majority. 🌐 Launched in April 2025 at the National Centre RUSSIA, the inaugural Open Dialogue brought together voices from 100+ countries, with 700 essays across four key themes: • Human Capital • Environment • Technology • Connectivity The most outstanding contributors were invited to Moscow for in-person discussions. The initiative resulted in analytical reports and essay collections presented at #SPIEF2025. ❗️The second Open Dialogue invites authors to submit ideas until January 30, 2026. 👉Submit your essay

⚡️ Outcomes of the XXVIII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum📊📊📊📊 🌐 The Forum welcomed over 24'200 participants and media representatives from 144 countries and territories, including Russia. The largest delegations came from Indonesia (over 260), China (250), the UAE (over 120), Bahrain (over 80), and Saudi Arabia (over 80). The #BRICS+ format was represented almost in full (except Iran), alongside all associated partner countries. The number of representatives from #ASEAN countries increased fourfold. Among the high-ranking officials attending the Forum were: • President of the Republic of Abkhazia Badra Gunba; • President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto; • Prime Minister of the Republic of South Ossetia Konstantin Dzhussoev; • Vice President of the Republic of South Africa Paul Mashatile; • Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Ding Xuexiang; • Personal Representative of His Majesty the King of Bahrain on Youth and Charity Affairs, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa; • OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais; • BSEC Secretary General Lazăr Comănescu. 👨‍💼👩‍💼 The Forum brought together around 8'700 representatives from Russian and international businesses. The official business program featured over 370 events, including 24 business dialogues with key countries and regions, with more than 1'300 speakers and experts participating. This year’s Guest Country was Bahrain 🇧🇭. SPIEF also comprised: the Business Twenty Forum, the 10th Anniversary SME Forum, the Ensuring Drug Security Forum, the Creative Industries Forum, the General Assembly of OANA (Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies). The Forum also hosted Youth Day — a space for dialogue, creative brainstorm, and personal growth for future leaders. Over 8'000 young participants took part, including representatives from more than 220 universities and around 60 research institutions. 🤝 On the sidelines of SPIEF, 1'060 agreements were signed for a total of 6.3 trillion rubles (approximately $80.2 billion). 💬 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin at this year's plenary session said the following: “The forum’s format traditionally fosters substantive and meaningful discussions on the most pressing issues. We are pleased that representatives from 140 countries and territories have joined this important dialogue. This year, among the important topics is the quality of growth in the context of a multipolar world and major global challenges. These include profound shifts in the global economy and demographics, such as the planet’s population dynamics, as well as social, public, and geopolitical tensions that manifest through crises and rapidly escalating regional conflicts". 🔎 Learn more: 👉Excerpts from Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks and Q&A at a meeting with heads of the world’s leading news agencies on the sidelines of SPIEF-2025; 👉Vladimir Putin's key statements at the SPIEF plenary session; 👉 Vladimir Putin's responses to questions from the session moderator Nadim Koteich, General Manager and presenter at Sky News Arabia. 🛳️#SPIEF2025

#SPIEF2025📊📊📊📊 🎙 Russia's President Vladimir Putintook part in the plenary session of the 28th St Petersburg International Economic Forum. President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, National Security Advisor, Commander of the Royal Guard of the Kingdom of Bahrain Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Ding Xuexiang, and Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa Paul Mashatile also attended the session. Key statements: 💬 Despite a challenging international landscape, Russia’s GDP has been demonstrating an annual growth rate of over four percent over the past two years, which is above the global average. • Commodities no longer play a defining role in Russia’s economic growth patterns. In 2023, Russia’s non-oil-and-gas GDP increased by 7.2 percent, followed by an additional 4.9 percent in 2024. These are solid figures exceeding the overall GDP growth rates. • Our strategic vector is precisely to actively and consistently transform the structure of the national economy, step by step. We have achieved a great deal in this area, but it is clear that moving forward is critically important, especially in light of the dramatic changes taking place in the world. • Annual inflation has already dropped to single-digit levels below ten percent. As of June 16, it stood at 9.6 percent. Of course, that is still high, but inflation targeting continues. • Over the past four years, employment in Russia has grown by 2.4 million people. Since October last year, the national unemployment rate has stabilised at around 2.3 percent, reaching a historic low. • In terms of youth unemployment, Russia ranks among the best globally, with a rate of approximately seven and a half percent. For comparison, youth unemployment stands at around 16 percent in France and 11 percent in the United Kingdom. • Russia’s economy must become more technologically advanced. We must fully unleash a new phase of the country’s technological development. The key instrument in this regard should be the national projects aimed at securing technological leadership. Read in full

#SPIEF2025📊📊📊📊 🎙 Russia's President Vladimir Putintook part in the plenary session of the 28th St Petersburg International Economic Forum. President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, National Security Advisor, Commander of the Royal Guard of the Kingdom of Bahrain Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Ding Xuexiang, and Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa Paul Mashatile also attended the session. Key statements: 💬 Despite a challenging international landscape, Russia’s GDP has been demonstrating an annual growth rate of over four percent over the past two years, which is above the global average. • Commodities no longer play a defining role in Russia’s economic growth patterns. In 2023, Russia’s non-oil-and-gas GDP increased by 7.2 percent, followed by an additional 4.9 percent in 2024. These are solid figures exceeding the overall GDP growth rates. • Our strategic vector is precisely to actively and consistently transform the structure of the national economy, step by step. We have achieved a great deal in this area, but it is clear that moving forward is critically important, especially in light of the dramatic changes taking place in the world. • Annual inflation has already dropped to single-digit levels below ten percent. As of June 16, it stood at 9.6 percent. Of course, that is still high, but inflation targeting continues. • Over the past four years, employment in Russia has grown by 2.4 million people. Since October last year, the national unemployment rate has stabilised at around 2.3 percent, reaching a historic low. • In terms of youth unemployment, Russia ranks among the best globally, with a rate of approximately seven and a half percent. For comparison, youth unemployment stands at around 16 percent in France and 11 percent in the United Kingdom. • Russia’s economy must become more technologically advanced. We must fully unleash a new phase of the country’s technological development. The key instrument in this regard should be the national projects aimed at securing technological leadership. Read in full

🇷🇺🇿🇦 President of Russia Vladimir Putinheld talks with Deputy President of South Africa Paul Mashatile 📍St Petersburg, June 19, 2025 Key takeaways from President Putin’s statement: • The relations between Russia and South Africa are developing successfully on the basis of a comprehensive strategic partnership, equality, and mutual respect. Russia and South Africa share common approaches to addressing urgent issues on the global agenda. • Bilateral trade saw an increase of approximately 2% in 2024. We will continue to expand and diversify our mutual trade and investment. #SPIEF2025 serves as an excellent platform for expanding contacts and working with partners from both Russia and other countries. • 40+ Russian higher educational institutions have established partnerships and signed agreements with relevant South African organisations. Currently, approximately 570 studentsfrom South Africa study at Russian universities. • Russia eagerly anticipates the arrival of a South African delegation in Moscow in September 2025 for the international music competition‘Intervision.’ • Strengthening ties with African nations remains one of Russia’s key priorities. Russia, South Africa, and other African partners are working collaboratively to implement these plans in practice. #RussiaSouthAfrica#RussiaSArelations