Today one of the oldest preferential conditions for business in Russia — special economic zones (SEZ) — is 15 years old. In charge of the SEZ, the Ministry of economy evaluates the effectiveness of this Institute very highly and intends to develop it further. Traditionally critical zone of the chamber, on the contrary, questioned their contribution to the growth of the economy. Only in Russia there are 33 SEZs, but among the established and visible can be attributed to only four. Experts say that to attract investment in the SEZ in the backdrop of economic stagnation and heightened geopolitical risks is problematic.The SEZ law was signed by President Vladimir Putin on July 22, 2005 — this mode involves the creation of the territory on which preferential regime for business and can apply the procedure of free customs zone. According to Ministry of economy, during the work of such zones — and now they are in the country 33 from the Federal budget for the creation and development of infrastructure of the SEZ is directed 140 billion rubles., from regional budgets — 76 billion rubles In total, these zones attracted 817 residents and more than 1 trillion of investment (including made — to 445 billion rubles.), created 40,9 thousand jobs. The main part of this statistic is provided with four zones that can be called successful: it has been running for seven to ten years “Alabuga”, “Technopolis Moscow”, “Saint Petersburg” and “Lipetsk”. They contributed 58% of jobs created and 70% of the sold investment.To special areas throughout their “life” a claim was made. The main critic of the SEZ remains the accounts chamber (SP), who almost every year says about the ineffectiveness of almost half of the areas. In the April report, the chamber does doubt the fact that preferential regimes have a breakthrough impact on the economy — growth occurs naturally and SEZ only adds to the comfort in the working conditions of previously established enterprises. The most devastating report SP presented in 2016, saying that the creation of one job in the SEZ, the cost to the budgets of approximately 10 million rubles. Then the President asked to freeze the establishment of new SEZ — the moratorium was lifted in August 2018. Created to manage areas of JSC SEZ was transformed into a project office, and most of its powers moved to the regions.Ministry of economy evaluates the success of the Institute is highly effective for the entire period of operation recognized 19 areas sufficiently effective to four. The rest of the assessment is not passed — they are either new, or they do not approved the performance indicators (as in the North Caucasus). Inefficient zones, according to economy Ministry, no, because these are closed (altogether there were eight). In General, the current situation with the areas the office like: “Interest in the SEZ from many regions remains high��level — from the beginning, created three sites with a total investment of over 35 billion rubles”. The Ministry of economy assured that they intend “to continue the development of this instrument to improve its effectiveness and contribution to the development of the economy.”Director of the Association of clusters and technoparks Andrei Shpilenko believes that the past 15 years has shown high efficiency, especially technical innovation and industrial production zones. However, he recognized the need to improve this preferential treatment. In addition, funds for infrastructure development of the SEZ from the Federal budget no longer stand out are shifted to the regions. Investment strategist, “BCS Premier” Alexander Bakhtin notes that the SEZ is an important mechanism for increasing the efficiency of investment. But this is just an additional tool — the key is the investment and the conditions in which they occur. “To attract investments in the SEZ in the backdrop of slow economic growth and heightened geopolitical risks at all desire is problematic,” he concludes.Eugene Kryuchkov
