Qatar National Library will participate in the 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2021 (SPIEF) between 2 – 5 June 2021, as part of a large Qatar delegation led by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

As part of the “guest country,” the Library will be looking at expanding the scope of collaboration with the Russian Federation to maximize the potential of cultural and educational strategies. SPIEF 2021 will be the ideal opportunity for the Library to engage in meaningful discussions with world leaders in the areas of culture, heritage and education, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on universities and the rise of digitization.

The Library will be part of a Qatari delegation comprising 500 members. As per the Qatari-Russian Center for Co-operation, the delegation is among the largest business delegations yet to be formed for an external forum like SPIEF. The official theme of the SPIEF 2021 is “A Collective Reckoning of the New Global Economic Reality.” The business program will focus on global and Russian economies, social issues, and technological development.

Abeer S. Al-Kuwari, Director of Research and Learning Services, Lolwa Al Naimi, Director of Strategic Planning and Projects, Dr. James Onley, Director of Historical Research and Partnerships, and Muneera Al Buainain, Senior Information Services Librarian, will be representing the Library at the event. The delegates will explore educational and cultural collaborations with Russia.

The Library’s visit will be a combination of high-profile discussions on education and culture, merged with visits to local libraries and museums in Russia and an Arabic book donation ceremony. The Library will participate in an exhibition to showcase educational toys used by the Library to promote science, technology and engineering among children and young adults. The Library’s delegates Abeer S. Al-Kuwari and Lolwa Al Naimi will also be signing MoUs with the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (known as the Kunstkamera), the oldest museum in Russia, and the St Petersburg Museum of Islamic Culture, the newest museum in Russia.

The Qatar National Pavilion will consist of more than 50 Qatari organizations, businesses, high-ranking officials, political figures, heads of authorities and civil society organizations. Qatar Foundation, Qatar Financial Center, World Innovation Summit for Health, Investment Promotion Authority of Qatar, Qatar Development Bank and Barzan Holdings are among the Qatari entities participating at SPIEF 2021.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is a unique event in the world of business and economics. SPIEF has been held since 1997, and since 2006, it has been held under the auspices of the President of the Russian Federation. Over the last 24 years, the Forum has become a leading global platform for members of the business community to meet and discuss the key economic issues facing Russia, emerging markets and the world.