NEW YORK, May 02, 8:35 /ITAR-TASS/. U.S. special machinery producer Caterpillar Inc will participate in a St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2014 as it was planned before, Caterpillar spokesperson Rachel Potts told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

Potts did not specify which official in particular would represent the company. It was earlier planned that Caterpillar Group President Donald James Umpleby would go to the forum.

Chairman and CEO of U.S. metallurgical company Alcoa Inc Klaus Kleinfeld refused to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2014. The decision was taken over U.S. authorities’ pressure, the Alcoa press service told reporters on Thursday.

Alcoa is ranked as the third largest world aluminium producer.

U.S. presidential administration called U.S. companies to talk their top management from participation in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum this year, business news agency Bloomberg reported.

As many as 2,420 people confirmed their participation in the forum as of April 23, Russian Minister of Economic Development Aleksey Ulyukaev said in the previous week. In his words, no less than 22 foreign official delegations will come for the forum, three heads of foreign states, five prime ministers, ministers of economy and finances of several countries confirmed their participation in the forum.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held on May 22-24 in this year. High on the agenda of the forum will be confidence-building measures in the epoch of transformations. The forum’s programme includes debates on several thematic trends, including risk management for boosting growth, realization of Russia’s competitive potential, management of breakthrough technologies and adaptation to changes.