The Russian government has supported amendments to the law on Special Economic Zones (SEZ). The document prepared by the Ministry of Economic Development of the country suggests improving the efficiency of SEZ administration and simplifying a number of procedures for residents.
In particular, the process of obtaining the status will be accelerated for future residents, and the approval procedure will become easier. When applying for resident status, companies will have the opportunity to replace the business plan with its simplified form – the passport of the investment project. The candidacy of the resident will be considered by the region without the participation of the expert and supervisory board. Such flexibility of the mechanism will allow making a decision on the investor in 15 days, now 40 days are allocated for this. In addition, the draft law proposes to combine industrial-production and technical-implementation types of SEZs, as well as to expand the list of permitted activities with excisable products. It will be possible to produce and process methane and liquefied petroleum gas on the territory of the zones.
– For future residents of the SEZ, the process of obtaining the status will be accelerated and the procedure for approval will be simplified. When applying for resident status, companies will have the opportunity to replace the business plan with its simplified form – the passport of the investment project, where all the necessary information for decision—making is visible,” said Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Economic Development of Russia.
– The special economic zone “Alga” created in Bashkortostan on the territory of Ishimbay and Sterlitamak districts is one of the most successful economic projects of the republic. We have been systematically engaged in its implementation over the past three years. We took into account the mistakes we faced earlier, studied in detail the experience of colleagues from other regions, applied all the best practices here,” explained the Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov. – The recognition of the SEZ “Alga” by the results of 2021 as the most dynamically developing special economic zone of industrial and production type in Russia was a confirmation of the path we have chosen correctly. Today, 10 residents have already registered here with a planned investment volume of 23 billion rubles and the creation of about 1,700 jobs. The first two productions were opened – the companies “Arcade” and “ZUR”. Our task is to progressively continue the expansion of the special economic zone, to actively work to attract residents. I am sure that the initiatives and mechanisms proposed by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia will contribute to the further establishment and development of economic zones,” Radiy Khabirov said.
The management company of the SEZ Alga is the Development Corporation of the Republic of Bashkortostan. They also reacted positively to the new proposals.
— These are specific decisions regarding the SEZ, which will allow investors to be more confident when entering the sites. The measures will help attract new residents to the SEZ “Alga”, – commented Nail Gabbasov, General Director of the Development Corporation of the Republic of Belarus. – The adoption of innovations will allow launching new projects, therefore, creating new jobs, which means that Bashkortostan will become an even more comfortable region.