Sectoral approach and clustering: Development of special economic zones discussed at the Exposition

At the RUSSIA EXPO, participants in the panel session "Special Economic Zones: Transformation of the Mechanism and Development Prospects" discussed legislative changes that will simplify work in SEZs.

Currently, Russia has 50 special economic zones in 43 regions. They have more than 1,100 residents, which provide about 68,000 jobs. In many respects, the development of SEZs is connected with changes in the legislation regulating their work, said Vitaly Altabayev, Director of the Department of Regional Development of the Ministry of Economic Development.

According to him, in 2023 administrative procedures for starting work in special economic zones were simplified. In particular, now the investor declares its obligations and starts operating immediately after the conclusion of the agreement. In addition, the criteria for the creation of SEZs for regions now stipulate a sectoral approach and clustering.

"Our task is to make the site of a special economic zone a territory where advanced development is taking place in the direction that the country needs now. The government has approved the creation of several new special economic zones. Among them is the Rostov SEZ in Novocherkassk, specializing in the production of agricultural machinery. In the Tver region, ropeways and other equipment for ski slopes will be produced. The System SEZ in the Republic of Mordovia will focus, among other things, on the production of fiber optics for import substitution in telecommunications. We are also expanding SEZ sites in the Lipetsk, Tula and Kaluga regions, which have already proved their effectiveness," said Vitaly Altabayev.

Currently, the Ministry of Economic Development plans to transfer maximum residents of special economic zones to tax monitoring - this will transfer tax audits online and speed them up. Among other things, the business will return VAT twice as fast. In addition, it is planned to remove the ban on pledging lease rights - this will attract additional capital. It is also planned to remove restrictions on work with petrochemical production facilities in SEZs and make other changes.