Russian Foreign Ministry says ready to help investors from unfriendly countries, offers preferences to businessmen from friendly states

MOSCOW. Aug 17 (Interfax) - Russia is not shutting out businessmen from unfriendly countries and is ready to help them work on the Russian market, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Economic Cooperation Department Dmitry Birichevsky said.

"Speaking of business, we are not shutting out anyone. We keep every door open and remain part of international economic relations, the global economic system. If businessmen come from the countries we currently define as unfriendly, this does not mean we will refuse to help them work on the Russian market if they want to do so, which often happens despite the will or messages of their governments. If it's an honest, bona fide entrepreneur who has come here to stay and is ready to keep working on the Russian market, we will have no biased attitude towards him for the sole reason that he comes from a so-called unfriendly country. We will be helping all investors who wish to work here, pay taxes, and develop their businesses," Birichevsky said on the Rossiya 24 television channel (VGTRK).

"While, of course, the countries that have imposed no restrictions and that would like to invest in the Russian economy, could enjoy certain preferences, benefits provided within the framework of special economic zones, rapid development territories or special investment contracts," he said.