The third SEZ-2025 International Forum started in Nizhny Novgorod
On September 18, the III International Forum of Special Economic Zones-2025 opened in Nizhny Novgorod at the site of the Sakharov Mayak Academy Cultural and Educational center. Svyatoslav Sorokin, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, stressed that the forum platform brought together representatives of management companies of the country's special economic zones, executive and legislative authorities, and experts.
"Twenty years of experience in implementing preferential treatment has shown that a Special Economic Zone is an effective tool for the development of regions. Today, our task is to open the doors to new international partners and provide Russian special economic zones with a strong position in the global market. Therefore, at the forum we will discuss with our colleagues the prospects for the development of the SEZ, which will help to achieve these goals. Among the main topics: scaling up the best practices of SEZ management, the cluster approach and new legislative initiatives," said Svyatoslav Sorokin.
Four panel sessions are scheduled during the day: "How to make the regulatory framework of SEZs more effective. Russian and international experience", "Effective SEZ management models: self-sufficiency of the management system and infrastructure development", "The role of SEZ in achieving Sustainable development Goals", "SEZ as a tool for the development of industrial corridors". The final point of the forum will be the plenary session "20 years of SEZ in Russia: international cooperation and global transformation", in which the participants will summarize the development of the institute, discuss the prospects for its improvement and identify guidelines for integration into the international economic space.
"The International Forum of Special Economic Zones for the Nizhny Novgorod Region is an opportunity to attract new investors to the region, find partners to work together, as well as explore best practices in the development of preferential territories and share their own. I am sure that the event will be useful for each of the participants," said Gleb Nikitin, Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. There will also be a "Single window" zone on the site, where participants can get acquainted with the process of supporting investment projects in the Nizhny Novgorod region, and an exhibition of special economic zones of Russia dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the institute in Russia.
"Within the framework of the forum, the Development Corporation plans to share its own experience in attracting investors to special economic zones and building an ecosystem on the site. In addition, we will talk about legislative practices in the field of preferential territories, for example, in the Nizhny Novgorod region there are improved conditions for granting income tax benefits to residents, which begins to operate from the tax period in which companies first made a profit," said Igor Ishchenko, General Director of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation.
In addition, the forum will summarize the results of the ESG rating of Russia's special economic zones, which assesses how actively management companies are implementing the principles of sustainable development – environmental initiatives, social standards and transparency of business management.
"Over the three years of its work, the International Forum of Special Economic Zones has already established itself as an authoritative platform for professional dialogue. Today, it brings together management companies, investors, government and business representatives to discuss the urgent tasks of developing special economic zones.The forum makes it possible to build partnerships both within Russia and with foreign colleagues, including the BRICS countries. Such an exchange of experience and the formation of sustainable ties contributes to increasing investment attractiveness, introducing the principles of sustainable development and integrating our territories into the global economic space," said Mikhail Labudin, Director of the Association of Clusters, Technoparks and SEZs of Russia.
The forum is organized by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, the Association of Clusters, Technoparks and SEZs of Russia, the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation. The forum's partners are Tool Group, Sintez Oka Group, and Spar Middle Volga LLC. The information partners of the event are radio holding "Choose radio", publishing house "Kommersant–Privolzhye", magazine "Russian Business Guide". A live broadcast of the forum sessions is available on the forum's website and on the Vkontakte channel of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation. In 2025, the Nizhny Novgorod Region confirmed its status as one of the leading regions in the ASI National Investment Climate Rating, once again taking second place in it.