We would like to invite you to take part in the fourth Russian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Forum (SME Forum), which will be held on 23 May 2018 to coincide with the start of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The objective of the Forum is to create a permanent community of small and medium-sized enterprises to discuss the current SME climate and the measures which need to be taken in order to strengthen their role in the Russian economy. Every year, the SME Forum attracts over 700 representatives of federal and regional legislative and executive bodies, directors of small and medium-sized enterprises, directors of state and public organizations providing support to SMEs, and representatives from the banking sector and legal and consultancy firms. The SME Forum creates an environment for open dialogue between government and enterprise, with a view to reducing administrative barriers and optimizing infrastructure, financial, and institutional support measures. The SME Forum business programme will include discussions on the role of small and medium-sized enterprise in developing the Russian economy,
available business support tools, international cooperation, how to ensure that companies have access to funding, and business startup success stories, as well as special master classes. Architecture for the SME Forum business programme is available on the SME official website. The Forum is organized by the Roscongress Foundation and OPORA Russia. The Federal Corporation for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME Corporation) is the event partner. We hope that the Forum will be one of the most important events in your 2018 business calendar. We look forward to seeing you in St. Petersburg.