III International Forum of Special Economic Zones to Be Held in Nizhny Novgorod
The III International Forum of Special Economic Zones ("SEZ-2025") will take place on September 18 in Nizhny Novgorod.
The event is organized by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, The Association of Clusters, Technology Parks and SEZ of Russia, the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, and the Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation.
The Forum is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the development of the special economic zone institution in Russia and will traditionally serve as a key international platform for discussing the future of the industry. The event will bring together representatives of business, government, and the expert community.
The program includes meetings between Russian and foreign investors, presentations of successful Russian SEZ cases, and discussions on new partnership mechanisms in an international format. Particular attention will be paid to issues of sustainable development and expanding global value chains. Starting from 2025, increasing investment activity is one of the key objectives of the national project “Efficient and Competitive Economy” initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Svyatoslav Sorokin, over the past two decades, special economic zones have proven their effectiveness as a tool for modernizing the economy:
“Special economic zones have become growth points for dozens of Russian regions. Today they demonstrate high returns, attracting investments, creating jobs, and increasing non-resource exports. The Forum in Nizhny Novgorod is an opportunity to summarize 20 years of work with SEZ participants, experts, and relevant authorities. I am confident that the outcome will be new development vectors that will expand Russia’s participation in the global investment agenda,” noted Svyatoslav Sorokin.
Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin emphasized the importance of the Forum for the region:
“Hosting an international forum is recognition of the region’s contribution to the development of investment and industrial infrastructure. Our local SEZ ‘Kulibin’ is also rapidly expanding and filling up with residents producing import-substituting and market-demanded products. I am confident that the meetings and negotiations during the Forum will help establish new business connections and facilitate the launch of new projects,” said Gleb Nikitin.
Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Andrey Sanosyan noted that SEZ "Kulibin" is currently one of the leaders in investment attractiveness among preferential territories. The Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation acts as its managing company:
“The Expert Council has approved 43 projects, with another 13 companies currently preparing documentation. The Forum will allow us not only to share our own experience with colleagues from other regions and countries but also to adopt best practices for developing preferential zones and build cooperation for future projects,” said Andrey Sanosyan.
Mikhail Labudin, Director of The Association of Clusters, Technology Parks and SEZ of Russia, highlighted the growing international role of the Forum:
“The International SEZ Forum has established itself as a unique platform for exchanging practices and building strong business relationships. Today, special economic zones are not only points of local development but also catalysts for international cooperation and sustainable growth. We see great interest in uniting efforts within the BRICS International Association of SEZs — a logical step to strengthen our position in the global market,” emphasized Mikhail Labudin.
Igor Ishchenko, CEO of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation, added:
“As the managing company of SEZ ‘Kulibin’, we are always open to cooperation. In recent years, we have hosted numerous delegations from other Russian regions and foreign countries, shared our experience in developing preferential territories, and studied best practices from our colleagues. The Forum will bring together leading specialists who, I am sure, will be able to develop a vision for the future of special economic zones,” said Igor Ishchenko.
Registration for the III International Forum of Special Economic Zones 2025 is available at https://ifsez.ru/reg. Registration is open until September 16, inclusive.