The results of the 9th National Rating of Investment Attractiveness of Special Economic Zones of Russia have been announced

The Association of Clusters, Technology Parks, and Special Economic Zones of Russia, with the support of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, presented the results of the 9th National Rating of Investment Attractiveness of Russian Special Economic Zones (SEZs) – 2025. The rating, in effect since 2017, is designed to identify the most competitive special economic zones that provide optimal conditions for investment projects.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Svyatoslav Sorokin emphasized that special economic zones are currently the most successful tool for attracting investment, based on tax and customs preferences, as well as stable business conditions for residents.

"Furthermore, SEZs are currently actively using a wide range of government support measures, including compensation for infrastructure creation, cluster approaches, lean technologies, and preferential financing. This comprehensive approach has resulted in improved economic performance. Thus, in the first half of this year, investors have already invested approximately 600 billion rubles in the development of their projects in SEZs." "The budget expenditure-to-private investment ratio is currently 1 to 10. This means that for every 1 ruble of government investment, we attract 10 rubles of private investment into the economy," noted Svyatoslav Sorokin, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

"I would like to note the continuous improvement of the Special Economic Zones mechanism over the past 20 years since the institution's creation. This principle of continuous improvement has enabled SEZs to become one of the most effective tools for territorial development in our country. At the same time, the Rating is a tool that makes an undeniable contribution to the continuous improvement of this mechanism. It motivates teams from all regions of our country to take concrete action: expanding opportunities for investors, simplifying permitting processes, and implementing best management practices," said Denis Kravchenko, Chairman of the Commission, Chairman of the Expert Council for the Development of Preferential Regime Territories, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, and member of the Bureau of the Supreme Council of the United Russia party.

This year, the ranking included 48 SEZs of four types: industrial and production, technology and innovation, tourism and recreation, and port. For the first time, a separate assessment was conducted for tourism and recreation zones. The methodology was significantly updated: experts considered 41 indicators across seven blocks, additionally assessing strategic planning, financial openness, the presence of innovative and social infrastructure, experience in attracting government support, and low-carbon development strategies.

In 2025, special attention was paid to the quality of territorial management, industrial cooperation, environmental development, and the public engagement of management companies. Mikhail Labudin, Director of the Association of Clusters, Technology Parks, and SEZs of Russia, noted that the expansion of the ranking methodology reflects current global challenges:

"The expansion of the methodology reflects the broader context of the development of the SEZ institution, which today includes not only domestic competition and improved management quality, but also growing international cooperation. In 2024, the BRICS International SEZ Association was established, and in 2025, the BRICS SEZ Investment Navigator was launched—a unified digital ecosystem providing investors with access to information on support measures and opportunities offered by preferential territories. This makes the SEZ institution more transparent and competitive, and the National Rating an important tool for benchmarking Russian territories against global practices and strengthening their position internationally."

Leaders of the 9th National Rating of Investment Attractiveness of Russian SEZs:

Industrial, Production, and Port SEZs

1st place – Lipetsk Industrial and Industrial SEZ
2nd place – Alabuga Industrial and Industrial SEZ
3rd place – Alga Industrial and Industrial SEZ

Technology and Innovation SEZs

1st place – Technopolis Moscow Industrial and Industrial SEZ
2nd place – St. Petersburg Industrial and Industrial SEZ
3rd place – Dubna Industrial and Industrial SEZ

Tourism and Recreation SEZs

1st place – Arkhyz Tourism and Recreation SEZ
2nd place – Gates of Baikal Tourism and Recreation SEZ
3rd place – Baikal Harbor Tourism and Recreation SEZ

Nominations

— Kulibin won in the Comfortable Ecosystem category
— Novgorodskaya won in the Breakthrough category of the year"
— SEZ “Tomsk” was awarded for “Stable Growth”
— The leader in the “City within a City” nomination was the TVT SEZ “Technopolis Moscow”