Econ Ministry considers some twenty applications for free economic zones, intends to be critical in selection
MOSCOW. Aug 7 (Interfax) - The total number of applications for the introduction of free economic zones has reached twenty, but the Trade and Economic Development Ministry believes their selection should be approached critically and it would be expedient to close some of the free trade zones that already exist.
"I would personally close some, but the government has not made such a decision now," Deputy Trade and Economic Development Minister Alexander Tsybulsky told reporters on Friday after the ministry and the administration of the Lipetsk region signed an agreement on the expansion of the industrial-production free trade zone Lipetsk.
He said the Trade and Economic Development Ministry is now considering some twenty requests from the regions on free trade zones.
"We have recently had a meeting with the prime minister, where a decision was made that we will be very attentive and careful about creating new sites. Free trade zones will now be created primarily by granting preferential treatment without federal co-financing and the issue of federal support can only be raised if the project proves effective," Tsybulsky said.
Tsybulsky said the applications include technical-innovation zone projects, but an overwhelming majority of them is related to industrial-production territories.
