Foreign retailers not yet applying to return, but Russia will set tough terms if they do - minister

MOSCOW. June 2 (Interfax) - Foreign retailers who previously left the Russian market have not yet submitted official applications to return to the country, but if they plan to do so they will face conditions for localizing production and partnering with local players, Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov said at Russian Retail Week on Monday.

"No one has sent us an official query at this point. But it is absolutely certain that such a preferential regime, simple regime for entry, taking into account the difference in macroeconomic conditions, difference in conditions for financing manufacturing companies, to say let's simply let everyone back into our retail sector would be a reckless decision," Alikhanov said.

"Entry, of course, is possible. If someone wants to come back, please, but only with Russian partners, only with Russian control, only with grounding technology and only with developing a complete production cycle on our territory within a clear period," Alikhanov said.

He recalled that in regard to imports Russia has a national procurement regime that was extended to purchases by state companies at the beginning of this year (law 223).

"We didn't kick anyone out, but it certainly won't be like before," he added.