Robots shown at Russia's annual investment forum

Robots are taking centre stage at the annual 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. A glamorous android named Dunyasha sells ice cream to visitors at the event.

She's made my Promobot and her look is based on the appearance of Miss Perm 2014, the wife of the Promobot company's founder Rashid Gabdullin – Maria Boyarina.

Promobot, created for promotional events, for drawing attention of clients, to invite them to a board. It can also be used as an assistant-consultant.

Another robot from the same company was inviting guests to various discussion panels. Russia's showpiece investment gathering began Thursday, and organizers told foreign participants to be sure to bring cash — not necessarily for making investments, but for spending money.

The advice for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is a quiet acknowledgment of the economic difficulties Russia faces as it tries to promote itself to international businesses.