The priority development areas, the list of which will be given below, have become another attempt by the country's leadership to follow the Chinese path. It involves the formation of special areas, the so-called economic locomotives. Next, we will consider what the priority development areas in Russia are and what they are for.
Historical background
In the early 90s, the government proposed a list of priority development areas. However, as history shows, the developed programs were never fully implemented. In 1991, a law was passed regulating the inflow of foreign investment into the domestic economy. Its provisions established certain benefits for certain foreign entrepreneurs. In particular, a simplified registration procedure, reduced tax rates, long-term lease at a low price, a visa-free regime and a reduction in customs duties were supposed. Since 1996, SEZs have been created in the country. So, the first special zone was formed in the Kaliningrad region, the second - in Magadan. Forthe last program was developed until December 31, 2014. However, there has been no success in its implementation. A draft law on a special zone within the Baikal-Amur railway line was also adopted. The fate of the program is also unknown.
Initial Development
Out of 17 special zones created, only 6 became successful. The most problematic were tourist areas. As Tretyakov, general director of OAO SEZ, noted, this was due to an incorrectly chosen methodology. In fact, nothing was discussed with the investor, he was not given the right to choose a place for the implementation of the program. In addition, port areas are not developing actively enough. Experts suggest that this may be due to the reluctance of the regions themselves to engage in their promotion.
New round
Despite the setbacks, the evolution of special zones continued. At present, some SEZs may expand to the regional level. Special zones are considered to be a fairly flexible tool for attracting financial resources to the economy. During Medvedev's presidency, a law was adopted, the provisions of which regulated the formation and functioning of territorial development zones. Thus, a new concept was introduced. ZTR is a part of the subject, where favorable conditions are formed for the activities of investors. The purpose of such zones was to accelerate the socio-economic development of the region. The creation of favorable conditions involved the provision of state support to investors. However, she looked somewhatmore modest than envisaged in the 1991 draft. The management of such zones was to be carried out by a specially formed administration. Currently, ZTRs have been established in 20 regions.
Fourth attempt
In one of his speeches to the Federal Assembly, President Putin proposed the creation of advanced development territories. He added a number of localities to the list of already existing regions. At the same time, the President identified priority areas. In particular, according to him, the Far East, a territory of advanced development remote from the center, deserved special attention. Among the areas requiring investment, the president also named Siberia, in particular, Khakassia and the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The head of state also proposed conditions due to which the priority development area will be attractive to investors. In particular, they discussed five-year tax holidays, a reduced rate of insurance contributions, a simplified procedure for passing through customs, connecting to the power grid, and obtaining building permits. In addition, a clear program should be developed, in accordance with which the territory of advanced development will operate. The Far East requires the construction of related infrastructure. This task will be implemented at the expense of the relevant Fund.
What is the difference between SEZ and ASEZ?
The territory of priority development, in accordance with the regulations, has a slightly different status than the special zone. It is not allowed to create such districts in the same area. As such differences territory outstrippinghas no development from the SEZ. Perhaps the only difference can be considered the duration of operation. So, a special zone should operate for 20 years, a territory of advanced development for 12 years.
Bill: general information
Its action is aimed at establishing a legal regime for the areas under consideration. Support measures for enterprises-investors have been statutorily defined. In addition, the Federal Law "On territories of advanced development" governs all other relations that relate to these areas.
Established definition
The territory of priority development is a region of the Far Eastern Federal District, where special legal regimes have been established for entrepreneurial and other activities. The formation of this zone is carried out at the expense of the federal and local budgets, as well as other sources. The normative act establishes a special procedure for the formation of a priority development area. Primorsky Krai acquires a special status. In accordance with it, the legal status of residents and the specifics of their commercial and other activities are determined.
Legal Regime
The Law on Priority Development Areas establishes:
- Preferential rent rates.
- Special order of land use.
- Tax and insurance benefits.
- Special procedure for state control, municipal supervision.
- Preferential mode of connection tovarious infrastructure facilities.
- Providing special government services.
- Using the free customs territory regime.
- The possibility of attracting foreign qualified personnel on preferential and accelerated basis.
- Using sanitary and technical regulations following the example of the most developed OECD countries.
Administrative apparatus
The law on priority development areas establishes specific powers for public authorities. Within the districts, special units of the executive and other bodies (the Federal Tax Service, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and so on) should operate. Due to the establishment of a special procedure, the general level of administration of the region will be increased, following the example of similar zones in foreign countries.
Benefits
Since 2014, a special tax regime has been introduced in the Irkutsk region, Transbaikalia, the Far East and Buryatia. It was planned to reduce personal income tax to 7%, income tax - up to ten. At the same time, during the first five years it was supposed to make the last zero. However, in this case, the experts noted some contradiction. In particular, Medvedev pointed to a special tax regime, which was supposed to be aimed at stimulating non-commodity exports. A number of government measures, in turn, affected the tax on the extraction of ferrous and non-ferrous metal ore, coal, and gold. To date, no single direction has been developed. This creates certain opportunities for the activities of "influence groups".
Relocation of businesses
After Medvedev announced the strengthening of the powers of the Ministry for the Development of the Far East, this department, taking the opportunity, offered to transfer all shares of the Fund for the Development of the Baikal and Far Eastern Regions to the state. In fact, it acts as a subsidiary of Vnesheconombank. Thus, the transfer of shares would only mean a redistribution of resources. At the same time, the ministry put forward a proposal to form additional institutions. In particular, they spoke about JSC "Far East", an autonomous non-profit organization "Agency for the support of exports and attracting investments in the Far Eastern Federal District", as well as ANO "Agency for the development of labor resources".
As a result, along with the proposed closure of the special economic zones in the Magadan region and Sovgavan in the Khabarovsk Territory, we can note the displacement of the Ministry of Economic Development from the territory of the Far Eastern Federal District. The available resources will thus be concentrated in the hands of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East.
Investment and Employment
The development of the Far East region requires about 3.3 billion rubles. This figure is set for the period up to 2020. Of it, about 170 billion rubles. planned for 2014. Experts noted the beginning of the struggle for allocated funds in the federal center. The government itself gives preference today to the Ministry for the Development of the Far East. However, some large state-owned companies probably do not want this. One of the planned measures isemployment of personnel of single-industry towns. In particular, we mean employees of AvtoVAZ. In addition, a deferment from the army is being introduced for residents of the Far Eastern Federal District and citizens who have moved there.
Conclusions
Theoretically, as experts say, with the implementation of all or at least most of the proposed measures, the Far East region can turn into a territory fundamentally different from the rest with a special administrative and tax status. Some experts even say that the FEFD may become an analogue of Hong Kong. However, whether this will be implemented in practice is not yet clear. At the moment, there are not even prerequisites for anything resembling the concept of "one state - two systems." Skeptics believe that the priority development area may remain in the plans, like national projects, doubling GDP and other unrealized programs.
Opinions and suggestions
As M. Abyzov noted, the government of the state intends to compete even with the newly formed priority development territories in Korea, Japan, and China. At one of the meetings of the Ministry, a new concept was presented for organizing extra-budgetary receipts of funds in the Trans-Baikal region and the Far Eastern Federal District. Scientists also spoke at the meeting. They proposed to improve the development of geological exploration, to form terminals and so on. One of the researchers' proposals was seen as practically revolutionary. In particular, scientists spoke about the creation of funds for the development of the Far East region and Siberia, which would concentrate 20-25% of the total exportprofits of the extracted raw materials without its transfer to the "center". This idea was voiced by Vladislav Inozemtsev. Later it was put forward at a government meeting by Igor Slyunyaev (Minister for Regional Development).
Experts absolutely justifiably noted that for the successful implementation of the tasks set, strategic conceptual documents should be adopted. Among the other proposals of the Ministry for Regional Development was the idea of improving the transport network, which was to be allocated 300 billion rubles. In addition, the attention of government officials was drawn to the Magadan region. Thus, it was proposed to build an ice-free port on its territory (in Provideniya Bay or in Magadan itself). At the same time, the Ministry of Transport began to prepare the necessary amendments to the provisions of the Tax Code. They should include compensation for the costs of port operators, which will take place in the case of the construction of port checkpoints, which significantly speed up the processing of goods.
In closing
Despite previous setbacks, today the government is declaring a clear commitment to follow through. The Law on New Territories still needs to be improved. However, it already defines the main aspects concerning the formation and subsequent functioning of these areas. Of no small importance is the activity of the administrative apparatus directly in the FEFD itself. It should aim to promote and support government measures. With the joint work of allconcerned departments and ministries, entrepreneurs and citizens are more likely to succeed in a shorter time frame. The main task today, along with attracting investments, is to provide the population with work. To implement this task, it is necessary to create optimal working conditions at new and existing enterprises. It may be necessary to establish additional state guarantees for the population.
