Special Federal Structure To Govern Economic Zones
If the draft bill on the special economic zones is approved in the first half of 2005, many tenders for the establishment of special economic zones infrastructure will be held in the second half-year.
Mar 10, 2005
MOSCOW, March 10 (RIA Novosti) - If the draft bill on the special economic zones is approved in the first half of 2005, many tenders for the establishment of special economic zones infrastructure will be held in the second half-year, Economic Development Minister German Gref said when reporting on special economic zones at a cabinet meeting.
Mr. Gref stressed that such zones may be established beginning from January 1, 2006. According to him, if the State Duma approves the draft, the main elements of the zones will be ready by the end of 2006, and we may expect private investments inflow from 2007.
"The draft bill has been coordinated with the executive branches. To tell the truth, the president's staff has submitted its remarks, but I think that the Ministry of Economic Development will take into account all the remarks from lawyers within ten days," Mr. Gref noted.
The Ministry of Economic Development suggests that a new federal agency be established to manage the zones. "We plan to set up a new federal agency to govern special economic zones. It will be granted the necessary powers from all levels of authority for taking decisions on every aspect concerning special economic zones," the Economic Development Minister said.
According to Mr. Gref, the draft bill will help diversify the Russian economy. He reported that technoparks would be established at the present scientific centers in Russia during the first phase. "Technoparks cannot be set up from scratch," the minister noted. They will turn out high-tech products based on the latest scientific developments.
The production economic zones will be established next to produce industrial commodities in large quantities. The bill drafted by the Economic Development Ministry does not allow the extraction and processing of minerals, scrap metal, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and the production of excisable goods in these zones.
German Gref did not rule out that free trade zonescould also be created in the future.
Mr. Gref stressed that such zones may be established beginning from January 1, 2006. According to him, if the State Duma approves the draft, the main elements of the zones will be ready by the end of 2006, and we may expect private investments inflow from 2007.
"The draft bill has been coordinated with the executive branches. To tell the truth, the president's staff has submitted its remarks, but I think that the Ministry of Economic Development will take into account all the remarks from lawyers within ten days," Mr. Gref noted.
The Ministry of Economic Development suggests that a new federal agency be established to manage the zones. "We plan to set up a new federal agency to govern special economic zones. It will be granted the necessary powers from all levels of authority for taking decisions on every aspect concerning special economic zones," the Economic Development Minister said.
According to Mr. Gref, the draft bill will help diversify the Russian economy. He reported that technoparks would be established at the present scientific centers in Russia during the first phase. "Technoparks cannot be set up from scratch," the minister noted. They will turn out high-tech products based on the latest scientific developments.
The production economic zones will be established next to produce industrial commodities in large quantities. The bill drafted by the Economic Development Ministry does not allow the extraction and processing of minerals, scrap metal, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and the production of excisable goods in these zones.
German Gref did not rule out that free trade zonescould also be created in the future.