Results of the II International Forum of SEZs

The II International Forum of Special Economic Zones (hereinafter - SEZ Forum) was held on October 03-04, 2024 in the science city of Dubna, at the innovation industrial site of the special economic zone of technology innovation type. The Forum was organized by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, the Association of Clusters, Technoparks and SEZs of Russia, JSC “SEZ TVT Dubna”. The Forum was attended by A.V. Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, representatives of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, Ministry of Finance of Russia, Ministry of Construction of Russia, representatives of executive authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation developing special economic zones, delegations of fifty-three special and free economic zones of the Russian Federation, heads of resident companies, representatives of development institutions, banks, scientists and specialists - all of them were present at the Forum.

During the two days of the forum 7 panel sessions, 3 round tables, an international congress of free economic zones, a meeting of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy were held, which were attended by representatives of state and regional authorities, special and free economic zones and business.
The SEZ Forum is a discussion platform to discuss issues of strengthening investment and innovation activity within SEZs and FEZs, deep international interaction and improvement of site management based on the exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices between key industry participants.

The main objectives of the Forum are to analyze Russia's 18-year experience in creating special economic zones in comparison with the experience of other countries, to facilitate the establishment of partnerships of Russian special economic zones among themselves and with foreign special economic zones, to work out recommendations on improving legislation and law enforcement practice aimed at increasing the efficiency of functioning of Russian special economic zones as instruments of socio-economic development of regions and, especially, as institutions of regional economic development.

The government delegation familiarized itself with and highly appreciated the high-tech, clean, lean production of digital equipment and electrical products of Yadro Fab Dubna and Enkor companies.

Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, in his speech at the Plenary Session of the Forum, emphasized the importance of supporting special economic zones as an effective tool for attracting investments.

During the Forum, the head of the RusBioPharm Group of Companies, Punia Satya Karm, announced additional investments of over 5 billion rubles in the production of pharmaceutical substances.

As part of the business program of the SEZ Forum, an exhibition of Russian SEZs and investment projects of special economic zones of the Moscow Region was organized. Residents of the special economic zone Dubna presented their products to the forum guests: Aroma Home LLC, Biopharmlab LLC, PSK Pharma LLC, Promteh-Dubna JSC, Enkor LLC, Yadro Fab Dubna LLC, Altegra JSC, Pascal Medical LLC, X Red Group LLC. The exhibition was also attended by residents of SEZ “Stupino Kvadrat”, “Istok” and “Kashira”: LLC “Minsh Foods”, LLC “Flex Films”, LLC MNPP “Antrax”, JSC “Antex”, LLC “L-Pak”, and LLC “Prefabrika”.

In the one-stop-shop mode, Mikhail Labudin, Director of the Association of Clusters, Technoparks and SEZs of Russia, and Egor Kruglov, Deputy General Director of Dubna SEZ, told participants from the UAE, Iran, Nigeria, Cambodia, Ethiopia and Malaysia about the possibilities of obtaining resident status in the special zone.

Within the framework of the SEZ Forum the results of the II ESG-rating of special economic zones were announced. The first place in the ESG rating this year was taken by the Dubna technology innovation zone together with the Technopolis Moscow SEZ. The second place in the rating was taken by the special economic zone “St. Petersburg”. The third place was awarded to SEZ “Lipetsk”, the winner of the last year.

The opening of a high-tech customs complex on the right bank site of the SEZ “Dubna” and a solemn event marking the beginning of construction of a research and production complex of the cosmetics company Estilab Pro, a new resident of the SEZ “Dubna” became a landmark event of the forum. Today on the territory of SEZ “Dubna” operate 161 residents, with a total volume of private investment of more than 101 billion rubles.

During the forum 13 agreements were signed with potential investors, participants and partners of special economic zones of Russia.

We would like to express our special gratitude to the forum's general partner - Alfa-Bank JSC - one of the country's systemically important financial institutions, which plays a significant role in the Russian economy. 

Within the framework of the forum an agreement was signed between JSC “SEZ TVT Dubna” and JSC “Alfa-Bank”. The subject of the agreement is interaction between the parties, establishment of strategic partnership relations, development of long-term and effective cooperation on the territory of the Dubna Technology Innovation Zone.

We would like to thank our partner JSC Gazprombank, one of the largest universal financial institutions in Russia, which serves key sectors of the Russian economy. Representatives of the Bank took part in two panel sessions. The delegation was headed by Oleg Melnikov, First Vice President.

The forum included the signing of an agreement between Gazprombank, the Nizhny Novgorod Region Government, the Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation and the Association of Clusters, Technoparks and SEZs of Russia. The parties agreed to cooperate in implementing the low-carbon development strategy of the Kulibin special economic zone (SEZ) in Dzerzhinsk. Gazprombank plans to provide assistance in creating projects in the Kulibin SEZ with a view to further replication of similar solutions in Russia and friendly countries.