Actuality December 18, 2007

   Next year the Russian economic zones can attract 70 investors who will bring over RUR 20 bln ($800 mln). About such plans told Mikhail Mishustin, the head of the Federal Agency for Management of Special Economic Zones (RusSEZ). And already by 2010 the number of residents can increase up to 150.

On extended meeting RusSEZ summed up agency work for 2007. As Mikhail Mishustin marked, this year all attention was paid to construction of infrastructure objects in six Russian zones. We remind that these are four zones of technical and implementation type and two – industrial and production type. "Construction of 150 objects was conducted at once, the cost of concluded contracts totaled RUR 12 bln", Mr. Mishustin marked.

In November "Alabuga" industrial and production zones were already ready for residents in Tataria. And it is also planned to open two technical and implementation zones in Dubne and Tomsk. However, preparation of two another, in Zelenograd and St. Petersburg, goes behind the schedule of the approved plan on three-four months on the average.

However, schedule overrun of zones opening does not hinder authorities to attract residents there. Now, according to Elvira Nabiullina, the minister of economic development and trade, 52 companies-residents are registered in OEZ: 42 – in technical and implementation zones, ten – in industrial and production ones. The volume of attracted investments already totaled RUR 8,5 bln ($340 mln). Only in 2009, according to the estimations of authorities, about 70 residents, who are ready to invest over RUR 20 bln., will be registered in zones.

Agency management is satisfied with the work results. "The volume of private investments, expected by 2010, will fully cover the expenses of federal budget", Mr. Mishustin estimated efficiency of work. We will remind that to the end of 2010 the state plans to direct almost RUR 43 bln to infrastructural development of zones ($1,720 bln).

However, experts advise officials to approach the estimation of zones’ efficiency strictly: return from investments can appear below the forecasts, calculated in business plans. Besides, it is not worth waiting a large return from zones in the near future. "For example, efficiency of technical and implementation zones is measured foremost by new developments that then will be applied in mass industry", comments Ilya Sokolov the senior research assistant of Institute for the Economy in Transition. Effect from the industrial and production zones is direct, but has the long-term character. "And that their contribution would affect the Gross Regional Product, it is necessary to increase the quantity of large residents, ready to invest not millions, but billions of euro", an expert adds. Large expectations should be laid on tourist and recreation zones, but they will appear in Russia not soon: authorities plan to start construction of infrastructure only in 2009.