Representatives of the Russian Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (FEDC) - Director of “Chukotka” ASEZ MC (a subsidiary of the FEDC) Sergey Kolyadko and Director of the Investment Projects Implementation Support Department of the FEDC Vitaly Ponomarev, are taking part in the 4th Interregional Forum “Idea to Business. Business to Results.” Within the framework of sessions and conferences, experts acquaint entrepreneurs in the region with government support measures that help launch and scale business projects in the Far East and the Arctic, including in the face of external challenges. The event, organized by the Chukotka Development Fund with the support of the government of the region, is being held from April 19 to April 23, 2022 in the cities of Bilibino and Anadyr.
“Chukotka has a number of specific features and is different from other territories. It isn’t easy to launch a new economic project here because nature itself will test the strength of the investor and their spirit. At the same time, we have three simultaneous preferential regimes - the Chukotka Advanced Special Economic Zone, the Free Port of Vladivostok (FPV), operating in the urban district Pevek, and the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF). The regimes provide residents with unprecedented tax benefits and administrative preferences: zero rates on land, profits, and property taxes, as well as the ability to pay reduced insurance premiums. The FEDC under the leadership of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, comprehensively accompanies each investor’s project and provides many useful services, for instance, it has the right to protect the interests of a resident in court. It is really profitable to create new enterprises in Chukotka, which the country needs today for import-substitution production, to hire qualified and well-paid specialists with the support of the state,” said “Chukotka” ASEZ MC Director Sergey Kolyadko.
Director of the Investment Projects Implementation Support Department of the FEDC Vitaly Ponomarev, speaking at the forum site, spoke about how to obtain ASEZ, FPV, or AZRF resident status and revealed a list of questions that residents often have, also sharing cases on how to solve them.
“Entrepreneurs and commercial organizations with new investment projects can apply for resident status of one of the preferential regimes. For that purpose, one needs to submit an application to the FEDC. We’ll help work out and package the project, collect the required bundle of documents. After signing an investment agreement and assigning resident status, we will provide comprehensive support in implementing a business idea,” said Vitaly Ponomarev.
He added that since 2022, the Free Port of Vladivostok has become even more accessible for SMEs. The minimum capital investment threshold to obtain FPV resident status has been reduced 10-fold - from 5 million to 500,000 rubles. You can start a micro-business in the logistics industry, modernize production, or open a new workshop to manufacture products or process raw materials.
“Holding the forum ‘Idea to Business. Business to Results’ has already become a good tradition in Chukotka. Every year, the forum brings together entrepreneurs, investors, representatives of authorities, and business infrastructure support. I think this is a good opportunity to exchange experiences, learn, and generate new ideas,” commented Chukotka Governor Roman Kopin.
During the forum’s plenary session on April 21, 2022, held as a videoconference at two sites in Moscow and Anadyr, JSC “Chukotatomenergo” (part of the State Corporation Rosatom) was assigned AZRF status. The agreement was signed by the General Director of JSC “Chukotatomenergo” Pyotr Matyushenko and FEDC Acting Director General Nikolay Zapryagaev in the presence of Deputy Minister the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic Anatoly Bobrakov
JSC “Chukotatomenergo” plans to invest more than 150 billion rubles within 10 years in a project to supply power to the Baimsky Mining and Processing Plant (MPP) being created in the “Chukotka” Advanced Special Economic Zone with the aid of modernized floating power units. About 650 new jobs will be created.
Under agreements with the FEDC, ASEZ, FPV, and AZRF residents in Chukotka are implementing 80 investment projects, the volume of investments in them is 780.4 billion rubles, and 8,100 jobs are being created. Businesses have already invested 65.3 billion rubles, creating 2,200 jobs.
