World Economic Forum admission fee costs $19,000 per person. In 2014, WEF raised annual fees by 20 percent, making the cost for "Strategic Partner" from CHF 500,000 ($523,000) to CHF 600,000 ($628,000). The flagship event of the World Economic Forum is the invitation-only annual meeting held at the end of January in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together chief executive officers from its 1,000 member companies, as well as selected politicians, representatives from academia, NGOs, religious leaders, and the media in an alpine environment. The winter discussions focus around key issues of global concern (such as the globalization, capital markets, wealth management, international conflicts, environmental
St. Petersburg International Economic Forum his post illegally. In June 2013, the post of Chair of the Organizing Committee went to new Minister of Economic Development of Russia Alexey Ulyukaev. However, organization of the Forum and development of its business programme were overseen by Deputy Minister Sergey Belyakov. In 2014, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum found itself at the centre of controversy over the political crisis in Ukraine. Due to diplomatic tensions between Russia and a number of Western nations, heads of major corporations based in the US, Europe, and other regions declined to participate in the Forum. Speaking to reporters, an official White