Moscow, Jun 1 (UNI) Thirty Indian companies are participating in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), while Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are holding negotiations within the framework of the forum. SPIEF held in Russia's second largest city of St Petersburg, is a major global platform for communication between business representatives and discussion of crucial economic issues. Mr Modi will attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum tomorrow as the “Guest of Honor”. It is for the first time that an Indian Prime Minister is attending the international economic and business forum, compared with the Davos economic forum. On Thursday, a “Make in India” lounge was inaugurated at the SPIEF, which was attended by Commerce and Industry Ministry secretary Ramesh Abhishek. Ahead of his visit to St Petersburg, for the 18th India-Russia annual summit with Mr Putin, Mr Modi in an article published in the government-controlled Russian daily newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazetta highly praised the role played by Mr Putin in further strengthening the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries. “I will never forget my first visit to Russia in 2001 with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I was struck by the achievements of Russia, its sense of history and the pride of its people,” he wrote. “I have visited Russia a few times thereafter, and every time I have felt the immense goodwill towards my country and people. We deeply value the leadership and support that President Putin has given to our relationship,” he noted. “I pay homage to all those, known and unknown, who have toiled and contributed to the development of the unique relationship between our two nations,” Mr Modi said. “We are committed to building on this legacy and bequeathing to our youth a strong and vibrant partnership that will contribute to changing the world for the better,” he said. UNI XC SW