VICE-PRESIDENT U Nyo Saw attended the opening ceremony of the 29th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) at the EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Centre in Russia yesterday afternoon, Myanmar Standard Time.
Also attending the ceremony were the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Union ministers, heads and delegates from more than 130 countries around the world, the Myanmar Ambassador to the Russian Federation, the Myanmar Consul-General in Saint Petersburg and officials, heads of invited countries and officials, and business people. At the event, the documentary video of the 29th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2026) was shown, followed by a welcome address by the Governor of Saint Petersburg.
In his discussion, Vice-President U Nyo Saw said that Myanmar possesses significant potential for long-term development and enjoys a strategically unique geographical location at the crossroads of East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia. He continued that Myanmar, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, serves as a natural land bridge connecting regional markets and facilitating trade, transportation and economic integration. He added that, to fully utilize on these advantages, the Myanmar government sets policies aiming at facilitating trade and improving the business environment.
Moreover, the government modernizes its agriculture and livestock sectors to enhance productivity, strengthen food security and support sustainable development, and welcomes greater international cooperation and investment in these sectors. In particular, he invited investments in transport, communications, digital infrastructure, logistics, export-oriented manufacturing industries, technology and digital services sectors.
In the same morning, the Vice-President-led delegation attended the EAEU-ASEAN. During the meeting, Union Minister for National Planning, Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U Aung Kyaw Hoe discussed the importance of digital transformation and resilience against resource and climate-related risks in medium-and-long-term economic cooperation between the EAEU and ASEAN, and cooperation in innovative business sectors that could bring mutual economic benefits to business communities from both regions.
The Vice-President received delegations led by Leningrad Region Governor Mr Alexander Drozdenko and Russian Economic Development Minister Mr Maksim Reshetnikov separately at the centre.
They discussed enhancing not only government-to-government relations between Myanmar and the Leningrad Region but also people-to-people connections, promoting trade and investment, expanding tourism opportunities following the signing of the visa exemption agreement, the ongoing cooperation under the Myanmar-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, progress in jointly implemented projects and future cooperation prospects, and collaboration in the industrial, mineral, labour and energy sectors. — MNA/KTZH
