A proactive stance is essential. Then, “one plus one equals eleven.”

On March 10, 2026, the Astoria Hotel in St. Petersburg hosted members of the St. Petersburg International Business Association, who met for the first SPIBA General Meeting of the year.

SPIBA Executive Committee Chairman Stefan Van Doorslaer, a representative of the owner of Astros Logistics, opened the meeting and, introducing the three new members, noted that for SPIBA, quality is always more important than quantity. This was confirmed in the speech of the invited guest.

Speaking about plans to develop the Leningrad Region’s external relations, SPIBA’s longtime friend and partner, Anastasia Mikhalchenko, Chair of the Leningrad Region Committee for External Relations, noted that the corporate tourism company that has joined SPIBA could very well become a participant in major projects initiated by the Committee.

Anastasia Viktorovna only headed the Committee on External Relations at the end of last year, but as a businessperson, she has already developed extensive, concrete plans to expand the region’s foreign economic ties.

Despite a noticeable economic slowdown, major projects continue to be implemented in the Leningrad Region. According to the PKR Investment Group, the region will rank first among Russian regions in investment in industrial construction in 2025, and its share of investment in the region’s GRP in 2026 is projected to be 69%.

The region is one of the market leaders in the Russian Federation in terms of growth in non-resource, non-energy exports. Its key partners are China, Türkiye, and Brazil.

Strengthening the investment climate is of paramount importance for the economic development of the Leningrad Region. Projects participating in the “Green Corridor for Investors” system are monitored “literally manually.” Currently, 318 projects are in the active implementation phase.

The Leningrad Region Government actively participates in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The BRIF has also become one of the key platforms for promoting the region during its seven years of participation.

The Chair of the Leningrad Region Committee on External Relations is confident that it is important to work not only with foreign but also with domestic investors, and to support them first and foremost.

Anastasia Mikhalchenko enthusiastically spoke about the “Cool Location” industrial tourism program, which includes not only group visits to industrial enterprises (47 companies are currently participating in the project) but also educational activities (visits to museums and cultural sites, eco-trails, natural attractions, and local cuisine). The project allows companies to exchange experiences and find new partners. Companies from all regions of the Russian Federation, the CIS, friendly countries, Southeast and South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and China are invited to participate. Representatives of Leningrad Region businesses themselves enjoy visiting each other. This new product on the market could be of particular interest to corporate tourism specialists (this is where the expertise of a new SPIBA member will come in handy!). In 2026, the focus will be on business tourism and attracting companies willing to host groups.

The Leningrad Region plans to develop international ties and expand integration within the Union State, the Eurasian Economic Union, the CIS, BRICS, and the SCO.

The Leningrad Region Committee on External Relations plans to involve regional businesses in events held in the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Republic of Turkey. The Committee Chairperson invited SPIBA members to participate in these programs. Companies cannot always independently enter foreign markets; they need government support. Interested companies are welcome to join the delegations, including topics of interest to them on the agenda. Anastasia Viktorovna Mikhalchenko is convinced that successful development depends on the level of trust and the proactive stance of companies.

The Leningrad Region is actively implementing a range of activities aimed at strengthening its presence on the international stage. The Leningrad Region Committee for External Relations cooperates successfully with the St. Petersburg Committee for Foreign Economic Relations, as the saying goes, “One plus one is eleven.”

Following the elections to the SPIBA Executive Committee, the re-election of the Executive Director, and the annual awards ceremony in various categories, another favorite part of the event began – an opportunity for informal networking, an opportunity to share experiences, news, and enjoyable conversations with like-minded individuals. Regardless of the challenges facing business in the modern world, Karina Khabacheva, Executive Director of SPIBA, certainly expressed the general opinion: SPIBA continues the traditions of open, democratic, and transparent business practices in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. IN