Actuality January 28, 2008

   In Lipetsk region was opened the special economic zone (SEZ) of industrial-production type.

   In the opinion of the first Vice Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov, the important concrete step is done in the development of hi-tech intellectual economy.

   We will remind that Lipetsk SEZ is the second zone of industrial type in Russia that already began to work. The first was opened in Tatarstan in November, 2007. But already in 2008, declared in the Russian government, will start operating two technical-implementation zones – in Dubne and Tomsk. Active work is started in seven tourist-recreation SEZ. Thus, in the Altai Territory such zone will be also opened in 2008. In addition, on February, 1 the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade will give the start to the competition on collection of projects for creation of port SEZ.

   "We have the whole row of the special economic zones", consider in the Russian government. In course of time, minister Nabiullina adds, they can grow into centers on development of competitiveness and diversification of the Russian economy. "We often talk about the necessity "to go away from dependence of oil export". SEZ experience shows that we pass from something on mind to something in kind", Sergey Ivanov supported her.

   Creation of the special economic zones helps to solve not only economic but also social problems in regions: new workplaces appear, people receive good salary. In this made sure the first Vice Prime Minister and the head of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade during the excursion on the factory constructed in Lipetsk SEZ by the Italian investor. The enterprise will produce equipment for refrigerators. Vittorio Torrembini, the vice-president of Italian Businessmen Association in Russia, explained that factory workers have underwent special trainings and traineeship abroad.

   Till recently five companies worked in Lipetsk SEZ, two among which already established the production. Certificates of the conferment of resident status received four companies. According to the forecasts of Mikhail Mishustin, the head of the Federal Agency for Management of the Special Economic Zones (RusSEZ), by 2010 the volume of private investments on these projects totals RUR12 bln, and the sum of tax revenues is RUR 3 bln. Besides, to the end of this year, Mishustin expects, eight new companies will enter the Lipetsk zone.

   According to Sergey Ivanov, in the Lipetsk zone there are two industrial clusters at once: on the production of construction materials and household appliances. And in the perspective, does not eliminate the first Vice Prime Minister, engineers will invest money in Lipetsk. Thus, already now among ten Lipetsk residents there are three foreign companies.

   "We demonstrably showed that can well and quickly construct, manage zones", explained Ivanov such success. "In fact, if there hadn’t been created attractive conditions, investors would have gone away to another countries, for example, to India or China".

   The Russian officials and ambassadors of Italy and Belgium, who accompanied them, could appreciate good skills in construction and management, visiting the administrative-business center of the special economic zone. There services of public bodies – tax, migratory, custom services etc – residents get in the convenient "one stop" mode.

   Ideally, this principle would suit any economic project. The government does not set the ambitious task yet: to provide the introduction of "one stop" principle all over Russia. It seems that Russian authorities are not yet ready to conduct such scale fight against bureaucracy. To begin with, they want to introduce the "one stop" principle in all special economic zones. Where they are open, according to the first Vice Prime Minister, this principle is "strictly kept".

   Soon, near the opened building of administrative-business center, will begin to erect another construction. In it, as Mikhail Mishustin told, is planned to arrange the Exhibition center, where residents will be able to dispose their expositions. And authorities will demonstrate the SEZ advantages to the potential investors.

   Another "lure" for residents is construction of infrastructure objects at the expense of the state facilities. The power station, erected in Lipetsk, is already now able to provide all residents that came to the zone with energy. The custom terminal is constructed. Only this year of the federal targeted investment program RUR 1 bln will be appropriated to SEZ in Lipetsk for roads construction. Still, by 2010 the volume of investments in the infrastructure from regional and federal budgets will total RUR 5,3 bln.

   Today in Russia is taken the decision about creation of 13 special economic zones: four – technical-implementation type, two – industrial-production type and seven – tourist-recreation type.