SEZ St. Petersburg at the 4th International SEZ Forum: A Focus on Technological Leadership and New Partnerships
On October 22, the 4th International Forum of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) took place at the congress center of the Technopolis Moscow SEZ. For the St. Petersburg SEZ, the event served as a vital platform for aligning approaches with peers, showcasing operational results, and strengthening international ties.
The centerpiece of the day was a plenary session featuring Russia’s Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov. The discussion emphasized that SEZs act as drivers of technological leadership, with the criteria for evaluating their effectiveness shifting toward the creation of high-value-added jobs. The Minister noted that, in most SEZs, wages paid by resident companies are already 40% higher than the regional average—a figure expected to rise further. Other key focus areas included labor shortages and productivity; resident companies seeking to revise their project parameters will be encouraged to raise wage levels even further above regional averages. Despite budgetary constraints, the state continues to support SEZs: every ruble of public investment has generated 9.5 rubles in private capital. Furthermore, 23 projects received support through treasury loans this year, 10 of which are based within SEZs. Another major priority is international cooperation: SEZs are envisioned as gateways for foreign businesses to enter the Russian market, including those from BRICS nations.
During the International Congress of Special Economic Zones—moderated by Tamara Rondaleva, CEO of St. Petersburg SEZ JSC—participants discussed the synchronization of development strategies for preferential economic regimes across partner nations. International guests explicitly expressed their interest in integrating into the Russian economy. Representatives from China, Myanmar, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, and Egypt expressed a desire to work more closely with residents of Russian special economic zones (SEZs), while countries that have yet to establish such frameworks—such as Madagascar—sought to learn from Russia’s experience in creating them. A key mechanism for this partnership is the BRICS International SEZ Association, which serves as a coordination hub for aligning administrative approaches, scaling up B2B cooperation, facilitating technology transfers, and establishing common standards for investment attractiveness. Participants placed particular emphasis on sustainable development and "green" investments, viewing them as indicators of a high-quality investor approach and a commitment to serious, long-term objectives.
During a meeting of the Expert Council—held in conjunction with the 4th Sustainable Development Rating of Russian SEZs—the St. Petersburg SEZ reaffirmed its strong standing, securing second place for investment attractiveness among the country’s seven innovation-focused zones, and second place for sustainable development among all SEZs in Russia.
Furthermore, discussions were held on the sidelines of the forum with counterparts from the Republic of Madagascar. Building on a previously signed cooperation agreement, the parties addressed the practical aspects of their collaboration, including key sectors for the republic’s planned SEZ, potential site locations, and the associated requirements. Experts from St. Petersburg are sharing their experience in zone management and investor support, while a "roadmap" for establishing a special economic zone in Madagascar is being jointly developed with advisory input from the St. Petersburg SEZ.
In this way, the forum served as more than just a platform to showcase the achievements of the St. Petersburg zone; it facilitated a transition from formal, paper-based agreements to concrete, practical actions and new international projects.
The centerpiece of the day was a plenary session featuring Russia’s Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov. The discussion emphasized that SEZs act as drivers of technological leadership, with the criteria for evaluating their effectiveness shifting toward the creation of high-value-added jobs. The Minister noted that, in most SEZs, wages paid by resident companies are already 40% higher than the regional average—a figure expected to rise further. Other key focus areas included labor shortages and productivity; resident companies seeking to revise their project parameters will be encouraged to raise wage levels even further above regional averages. Despite budgetary constraints, the state continues to support SEZs: every ruble of public investment has generated 9.5 rubles in private capital. Furthermore, 23 projects received support through treasury loans this year, 10 of which are based within SEZs. Another major priority is international cooperation: SEZs are envisioned as gateways for foreign businesses to enter the Russian market, including those from BRICS nations.
During the International Congress of Special Economic Zones—moderated by Tamara Rondaleva, CEO of St. Petersburg SEZ JSC—participants discussed the synchronization of development strategies for preferential economic regimes across partner nations. International guests explicitly expressed their interest in integrating into the Russian economy. Representatives from China, Myanmar, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, and Egypt expressed a desire to work more closely with residents of Russian special economic zones (SEZs), while countries that have yet to establish such frameworks—such as Madagascar—sought to learn from Russia’s experience in creating them. A key mechanism for this partnership is the BRICS International SEZ Association, which serves as a coordination hub for aligning administrative approaches, scaling up B2B cooperation, facilitating technology transfers, and establishing common standards for investment attractiveness. Participants placed particular emphasis on sustainable development and "green" investments, viewing them as indicators of a high-quality investor approach and a commitment to serious, long-term objectives.
During a meeting of the Expert Council—held in conjunction with the 4th Sustainable Development Rating of Russian SEZs—the St. Petersburg SEZ reaffirmed its strong standing, securing second place for investment attractiveness among the country’s seven innovation-focused zones, and second place for sustainable development among all SEZs in Russia.
Furthermore, discussions were held on the sidelines of the forum with counterparts from the Republic of Madagascar. Building on a previously signed cooperation agreement, the parties addressed the practical aspects of their collaboration, including key sectors for the republic’s planned SEZ, potential site locations, and the associated requirements. Experts from St. Petersburg are sharing their experience in zone management and investor support, while a "roadmap" for establishing a special economic zone in Madagascar is being jointly developed with advisory input from the St. Petersburg SEZ.
In this way, the forum served as more than just a platform to showcase the achievements of the St. Petersburg zone; it facilitated a transition from formal, paper-based agreements to concrete, practical actions and new international projects.
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