Putin: tax burden to be raised at obsolete production facilities
ST. PETERSBURG. May 23 (Interfax) - Russia will carry out a reassessment of all production facilities in 2015 and plans to raise the tax burden on those facilities deemed obsolete, President Vladimir Putin said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
"All production facilities will be reassessed in 2015 and the jobs performed at industrial, transportation and communications enterprises will undergo a special evaluation in 2015-2016," Putin said, adding that this is needed in order to identify those plants using equipment that is past its "best-by date."
"The tax burden will be increased at such obsolete facilities. I request that the government prepare a determination on such fiscal measures, aimed at stimulating production modernization, before year-end," Putin said.
Use of "dirty" technologies must be made uneconomical, Putin said, adding the aging equipment is "harmful and unsafe" for workers.
Introduction of up-to-date, direct-action environmental standards will be accelerated, he added.
