Category: Events
In Saint Petersburg, Leading Market Experts United to Equip SMEs with Tools for Protection and Growth in 2026
April 27, 2026, Saint Petersburg — A large-scale conference for small and medium-sized business representatives titled «SMEs – 2026: New Challenges, Risks and Opportunities. How to Protect Assets, Manage Risks and Find Financing» took place at the Saint Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SPb CCI). The event was organized by insurance company Turicum, consulting agency Swilar, investment company Rikom-Trust, and auditing firm Sternhoff Audit.
The event opened with a welcome address from SPb CCI Vice President Anastasia Dedul, who emphasized the strategic importance of systematic support for the SME sector as a key driver of the region’s economic development.
«Today, small and medium-sized businesses are not only the foundation of the urban economy’s stability, but also a space for growth, cooperation, and the introduction of new solutions. The mission of SPb CCI is to create conditions under which entrepreneurs gain access to practical development tools, build partnerships, and find answers to pressing challenges. We also pay close attention to the protection and registration of intellectual property rights, as well as the formation of sound contractual practices — including the use of arbitration clauses with reference to the ICAC branch at the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Saint Petersburg, which helps reduce legal risks and improve the predictability of business interactions,» said Anastasia Dedul.
Key Topics and Practical Solutions.
Leading experts in finance, insurance, and investment offered participants not just an analysis of the current situation, but clear, step-by-step tools for protecting and growing their businesses in challenging economic conditions.
Specialists from insurance company Turicum examined new corporate risk schemes and asset insurance methods. Consulting agency Swilar presented crisis management algorithms, while Rikom-Trust experts spoke about real financing opportunities despite the tight monetary policy environment. Sternhoff Audit auditors, in turn, focused on tax security and ways to minimize claims from regulatory authorities.
The conference confirmed strong demand from the business community for bringing together the expertise of insurers, lawyers, auditors, and investors. Following the event, the organizers announced the release of methodological guidelines and the launch of a series of practical seminars for business owners.
- Thuricum Insurance Company — specialization: comprehensive business and corporate asset protection programs.
- Swilar Consulting Agency — strategic and management consulting for SMEs.
- Ricom-Trust Investment Company — sourcing and attracting financing, deal structuring.
- Sterngoff Audit — auditing, tax consulting, and accounting outsourcing.
- Saint Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry — a key infrastructure platform for dialogue between business, financial institutions, and government authorities.
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Swilar expert spoke at the CFO Conference in St. Petersburg on tax optimisation
At the end of September, St. Petersburg hosted a CFO Conference that brought together finance directors and senior executives to discuss current issues in financial management. Swilar was represented by Natalia Samonova, Head of Controlling Projects, who delivered a talk on tax optimisation and government support for business.
Natalia covered lawful methods to reduce the tax burden and leverage state support measures, highlighted typical mistakes companies make when modelling tax expenses, and shared practical optimisation techniques, with special attention to criteria for choosing an effective tax regime.
A separate section of the presentation focused on opportunities offered by Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Territories of Advanced Development (TADs). The expert outlined available tax incentives, entry conditions, and key pitfalls to consider.
In conclusion, Natalia Samonova emphasized there is no one-size-fits-all solution in tax optimisation: “An effective structure is the one that best matches a company’s specific goals and parameters.” She demonstrated approaches to assessing efficiency with illustrative calculations.
Swilar has many years of expertise in financial advisory and cost-management systems, including practical experience with SEZs and TADs. If you need assistance in selecting the optimal tax regime or evaluating the potential of government support for your business, we will be glad to advise you.
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In Saint Petersburg, Leading Market Experts United to Equip SMEs with Tools for Protection and Growth in 2026
Topics 2025: Practical Experience and Recommendations for Business Operations in Changing Conditions
PROGRAM
1. Current situation with international payments — overview and practical recommendations. Cryptocurrency payments — new opportunities for business?
Daria Pogodina — Managing Partner, swilar
2. Possibilities of transfers within the framework of foreign economic activity in rubles and yua
Vasily Lukyanenko — Head of Department, JSC OTP Bank, Corporate Business Directorate
3. What to consider when working with personnel
Elena Balashova — Managing Partner, Balashova Legal Consultants
4. Liability insurance as an important element of risk management. Risks of directors and managers
Nikolay Artamonov — Underwriter for financial risks, JSC IC Turikum
5. Audit checklist — main errors identified by auditors in accounting and tax accounting based on the results of 2024 in the context of constant changes. Preparation for the annual audit
Olga Grigorieva – General Director of Sterngoff Audit LLC
6. Logistics and customs risks when importing to the Russian Federation. Latest practice: routes, customs control, inclusion of agent fees, dividends
Anna Dashicheva – Commercial Director of Polar Group LLC
Online seminar 13.12.2024: Doing Business in Russia – Practical Experience in New Circumstances
PROGRAM
Detailed reviews and Q&A session with experienced experts on the following topics
1. Doing business in Russia
Legal, tax, HR and migration issues. Basics.
2. Overview on bank transaction with Russia
SWIFT, currency exchange and other.
3. Practical experience of foreign companies in Russia
FAQ in the regular business processes.
Online seminar 11/12/2024: Features of liquidation of companies with foreign participation: latest changes and practice
PROGRAM
1. Features of liquidation of foreign subsidiaries in 2024-2025.
Daria Pogodina, Managing Partner of swilar
2. Liquidation audit – features of the procedure.
Olga Grigorieva, General Director of Sterngoff Audit
3. Closing representative offices and branches of foreign companies – what to consider?
Daria Pogodina, Managing Partner of swilar
4. Features of termination of employment relations with employees during company liquidation.
Elena Balashova, Managing Partner of Balashova Legal Consultants
5. Planning the budget and financing of the company during the liquidation period.
Natalia Samonova, Head of Controlling Projects of swilar
6. Business valuation in Russia for the purpose of submission to the Government Commission.
Alexey Sitnikov, Director, Swiss Appraisal
FSBU 27/2021 and new sanctions restrictions in terms of impact on the IT sector: risks, deadlines, necessary actions
PROGRAM
1. FSBU 27/2021 and new sanctions restrictions in terms of their impact on the IT sector. Overview.
Daria Pogodina, CEO of SVILAR LLC
Olga Grigorieva, CEO of Shterngoff Audit LLC
2. Localization and support of ERP taking into account the 12th package of sanctions.
Stanislav Malyshev, CEO of ALPE Consulting LLC
3. The 12th package of sanctions and other restrictions in the IT sector.
(How to prepare a company’s infrastructure for changes)
Sergey Idiyatov, Head of Corporate Client Support, ALP ITSM
Autumn 2023 Topics: Practical Experience and Recommendations for Working in Changing Conditions
On November 30, the online seminar was held on the topic “Current topics of autumn 2023: practical experience and recommendations for working in changing conditions” where experts discussed with the audience the issues of suspension of the DTT, liability of companies for failure to maintain military records, company adaptation to sanctions and restrictions in IT, as well as the specifics of transfer pricing and trends in logistics.
The General Director of swilar Daria Pogodina spoke in more detail about the expansion of the list of offshore companies, the consequences and mitigations in the issue of suspension of the DTT.
Elena Balashova, Managing Partner of Balashova Legal Consultants, analyzed the current changes and judicial practice regarding the maintenance of military records.
Sergey Bezruchenok from ALP ITSM shared his experience in solving problems with the termination of support for Microsoft, VPN and Russian email addresses.
Head of the Controlling and Reporting Department of swilar Eugenia Chernova discussed in more detail how to prepare for work in the changed conditions of transfer pricing, and Managing Partner of Sterngoff Audit Olga Grigorieva gave a checklist of the main errors that auditors identified in accounting and tax accounting in the first half of 2023.
Commercial Director of Polar Logistics Solutions Anna Dashicheva spoke in detail about current trends in logistics using the example of the North-West. At the end of the meeting, the speakers discussed questions from the audience.
Follow the program of our events in the future and join in if the topic is relevant to you.
Organizers: swilar group of companies together with the audit company Sterngoff Audit, the law firm Balashova Legal Consultants, the IT company ALP ITSM and the logistics company Polar Logistics Solutions.
Online seminar 10/24/23
On October 24, a checklist seminar was held entitled “Main tax changes, suspension of SUDAT, new FSBU, HR electronic document management. Convergence of HGB IFRS and RAS taking into account the new standards.” Tatyana Rolzing (Vorontsova), leading expert-consultant on taxation at ELKOD LLC and external consultant of Sterngoff Audit, discussed current issues of applying new FSBU: issues of applying FSBU 6/2020, FSBU 26/2020, as well as FSBU 25/2018 for rent and leasing and the transition to FSBU 14/2020 in 2023.
Olga Grigorieva, the General Director of Sterngoff Audit, highlighted the errors identified by auditors during the audit of the first half of 2023.
Evgenia Chernova, Head of Controlling Projects, swilar, gave a comparative analysis of the new FSBU 14 (intangible assets), IAS 38 and HGB.
Anastasia Zaitseva, Head of Labor Practice, Partner, Balashova Legal Consultants, highlighted the specifics of maintaining personnel electronic document management (KEDO).
Daria Pogodina, the General Director of swilar, focused on the issues of DTT: suspension, mitigation, comments, consequences.
Polina Kolmakova, external consultant, Sterngoff Audit, analyzed the main changes in the procedure for calculating and paying taxes in 2023-2024, based on the practice of application, taking into account the clarifications of financial departments and judicial practice.
Online seminar 04/26/23: “Tax changes, FSBU, ETS, tax risks, dividend payments and other issues”
Online seminar 02.03.23: “Situation of foreign SMEs in Russia — Practical experience and reorientation under new conditions: Update”
On 2 March, the online seminar on “Situation of foreign SMEs in Russia — Practical experience and reorientation under new conditions: Update” was held.
The meeting started with a welcome speech by Artur Chernievski, Head of Swiss Business Hub Russia and continued with a discussion of the most relevant topics for foreign SMEs in Russia.
Daria Pogodina, the General Director of swilar LLC, talked about the peculiarities of business restructuring in the current situation and discussed options such as management buyout, liquidation, “sleep mode”.
Ivan Ashaulov, Director, Key Accounts&Partners, gave advice on preparing the business before submitting it to the Government Commission.
Eugenia Chernova, Head of Controlling of swilar LLC, reminded of recent changes related to the payment of dividends from a Russian subsidiary to a foreign parent company.
At the end of the meeting, the speakers answered questions from the audience. Keep an eye on our events programme in the future and join us if the topic is relevant to you.
Organised by Switzerland Global Enterprise, swilar and Swiss Appraisal.