Technopolis Moscow wins 6 Global Free Zone awards

Technopolis Moscow and its special economic zone (SEZ) has been awarded 6 bespoke awards in the prestigious Global Free Zones of the Year award.

Established by fDi Magazine, a leading international publication on foreign direct investment, the judging panel had high praise for Technopolis Moscow's application. As a result, the Russian free economic zone won six bespoke awards in the following categories: Cluster Development, Development of Public-Private Partnership, Real-Estate Flexibility, Red Tape Reduction, and Workforce Amenities, including a new category in 2020—Covid-19 Support.

The Global Free Zones of the Year rating is the only international rating for special economic zones that is globally recognized, and is now in its sixth edition. In 2020, 100 applications from all over the world were submitted for participation in the rating.

"The efforts taken by SEZ Technopolis Moscow aimed at combating the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting residents who had to quickly repurpose their production facilities were noted separately in the rating, in a new category for 2020. For example, during the period of temporary restrictions, SEZ Technopolis Moscow reduced the rent for 100 manufacturers and allowed companies to save about RUB 50 million in three months, from April to July,” said Vladimir Efimov, Vice-Mayor of Moscow for Economic policy and Land-property affairs

SEZ Technopolis Moscow includes five sites with a total area of over 200 hectares, including both greenfield and brownfield territories. 180 Russian and international high-tech companies are currently located there.

The judging panel had high praise for the flexible conditions offered to the SEZ residents, its overall investment attractiveness, and the opportunities available for expanding production facilities. The infrastructure opportunities provided by the Moscow technopolis were noted separately, as well as the educational cooperation carried out with leading universities in Russia and abroad.

“Winning in six categories at once is the best result seen for a Russian SEZ in this rating since 2014, when the rating became annual. Previously, the best result among Russian special economic zones was a victory in five categories—Alabuga in 2015 and Lipetsk in 2019," commented Gennady Degtev, CEO of SEZ Technopolis Moscow.

Technopolis Moscow puts the success of its special economic zone down to the systematic measures carried out by the Moscow Government aimed at improving the investment climate and efficiency of the city's business infrastructure. Preferential conditions offered to residents of a special economic zone can help them to save significantly on taxes and other mandatory payments, including a zero tax rate on fixed assets, reduced income tax, and duty-free imports.

You can read the full article about Technopolis Moscow in fDi Magazine here, or watch the video presentation of the awards here.