From March 3 to 5, the EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Centre is hosting the International Exhibition of Pet Products and Services Zooindustry and the North-West Veterinary Congress.
Denis osadchy, deputy general director for project management at ExpoForum International, spoke about the Zooindustry exhibition:
“Russians are very fond of pets. According to statistics, there are 26 million dogs and 50 million cats living in our homes. Caring for our four-legged friends is part of our national character. That is why the pet business is one of the fastest-growing sectors of our economy. In 2025, it grew by 15%.
The range of pet products and services is constantly expanding. The best offers on the market are presented at Zooindustry. Together with the Veterinary Congress, the exhibition occupies 9,000 square metres. It brings together 130 companies from Russia, Belarus, Turkey, and China. The business programme includes more than 30 events. Key topics include the new tax system, product labelling, and the transition of retail to online formats. There will also be sessions for groomers and breeders, as well as a Business Contacts Centre,” the company’s press service quoted the speaker as saying.
At the joint opening ceremony for Zooindustry and the Veterinary Congress, Kirill Dmitriev, Chairman of the Pet Business Commission at OPORA RUSSIA, President of the National Pet Industry Association, and member of the Public Council under the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor), addressed the audience.
“Traditionally, at the beginning of spring, we gather in St. Petersburg to discuss where the entire industry is heading. Despite all the challenges facing the sector and the country, we are demonstrating resilience in the face of crises. The pet industry is not only a business, but also a mission to make pets and their owners happy. This is an important social task, as 75% of Russians now keep a pet,” Dmitriev said.
Kirill Plemyashov, Rector of the St. Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine, noted that investments in education deliver the greatest returns. He described St. Petersburg as Russia’s leader in veterinary education. According to him, the University of Veterinary Medicine has more than 3,500 students—more than the combined total of Russia’s five largest veterinary universities in Moscow.
Angela Lopatinskaya, Deputy Head of the St. Petersburg Veterinary Administration, highlighted the self-sufficiency and comprehensive nature of the Russian market for pet products and services.
Ekaterina Rybakova-Aleksandrova, Head of the Pushkin Branch of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed participants on behalf of Vladimir Katenev, President of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Lyubov Vorozheikina, Director of the non-profit partnership St. Petersburg Veterinary Society and organiser of the North-West Veterinary Congress, recalled that over six years of collaboration, the Zooindustry exhibition and the Veterinary Congress have grown significantly in scale and in the number of exhibitors and visitors.
The International Exhibition of Pet Products and Services Zooindustry and the North-West Veterinary Congress are being held in Pavilion E of the EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Centre. More than 5,000 visitors are expected to attend. Free shuttle buses run from Moskovskaya Metro Station to the pavilion.