SPIEF, St. Petersburg, Russia | 19 June 2025
In a landmark appearance at SPIEF 2025, Dr. Gaurav Gupta, Founder President of the Global Trade & Technology Council of India (GTTCI), delivered a powerful and forward-looking address during the special session focused on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) economic agenda. Held on June 19, 2025, in the historic city of St. Petersburg, this session brought together high-level leaders and industry pioneers committed to fostering regional prosperity through business-led collaboration.
The session was graced by an illustrious panel of speakers including Mr. Nurlan Ermekbaev, Secretary General of the SCO; Mr. Sergey Katyrin, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation; Mr. Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade; and other esteemed business leaders from Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, and India. Dr. Gupta stood as a prominent voice representing India’s dynamic private sector.
In his address, Dr. Gupta reflected on the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, emphasizing the emergence of a multipolar world order that prioritizes balanced and inclusive cooperation. He underlined India’s steadfast commitment to non-alignment, strategic autonomy, and global harmony, positioning the country as a natural bridge between East and West, tradition and innovation.
Highlighting the immense potential of the SCO region, which encompasses over 3.5 billion people and 65% of the Eurasian landmass, Dr. Gupta called for a renewed thrust towards multilateral economic engagement. He showcased India’s leadership across various sectors—particularly in digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agri-tech, clean energy, and sustainable development.
“From India’s perspective, the prospects for business cooperation within the SCO space are not just promising—they are imperative,” he remarked, calling for practical collaboration to harness collective potential.
Dr. Gupta proudly shared GTTCI’s recent achievements in the SCO region, including the signing of strategic Memorandums of Understanding with key chambers of commerce in Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. These partnerships are already paving the way for joint exhibitions, trade delegations, and investment initiatives in priority sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and green technology.
He also proposed concrete policy measures to deepen business ties among SCO member states. These included:
– Establishing a common SCO Digital Cooperation Hub;
– Introducing a regional business visa regime;
– Creating a joint investment and trade promotion fund;
– Harmonising logistics and customs protocols across borders.
In a moment of diplomatic resonance, Dr. Gupta emphasized that diversity is the SCO’s strength. “If we come together with sincerity, mutual trust, and a long-term vision, we can transform this regional grouping into a global exemplar of cooperative development,” he said.
His speech was met with high appreciation and served as a testament to India’s proactive and inclusive approach to regional economic integration. As the session concluded, it was clear that GTTCI, under Dr. Gupta’s stewardship, remains a vital stakeholder in driving the SCO’s economic agenda forward.
With this impactful engagement at SPIEF 2025, Dr. Gaurav Gupta has once again reaffirmed GTTCI’s mission—to foster global partnerships that translate dialogue into development and potential into
