The session will explore the role of special economic zones (SEZs) in providing the infrastructure needed to achieve the objectives of Russia’s national projects for technological leadership.

Particular attention will be paid to mechanisms for developing industrial, innovation and support services infrastructure, attracting investors, building partnerships across supply chains, and ensuring that businesses have access to a skilled workforce. Together, these conditions help shorten project launch timelines and reduce the risks associated with developing and adopting priority technologies.

Participants will examine approaches to creating an enabling environment within SEZs for projects that advance technological leadership. They will also discuss opportunities to align SEZ development with national project initiatives and government support measures. The session will provide a platform for developing proposals to position SEZs as hubs for the development, deployment and scaling of Russian technologies.

The session will also feature the presentation of the results of the 10th National Ranking of Investment Attractiveness of Russia’s Special Economic Zones.

As global macroeconomic models evolve, special and free economic zones are emerging as drivers of technological sovereignty and hubs for international value chains.

The International Congress of Free Economic Zones serves as a central platform for expert dialogue on aligning partner countries’ strategies for developing preferential economic regimes.

The International Association of Special Economic Zones of the BRICS Countries provides the institutional framework for this partnership. The Association acts as a shared coordination hub, promoting convergence in administrative practices, expanding B2B cooperation among resident companies, facilitating seamless technology transfer, and developing common standards for investment attractiveness across the BRICS countries.

Sustainability, including environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices and progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will be a cross-cutting theme of the Congress. The transition to a circular economy, the development of eco-industrial hubs and the adoption of low-carbon technologies are setting new benchmarks for the global competitiveness of industrial sites seeking to attract investors across the Global South and East.

The investment attractiveness of a special economic zone (SEZ) depends on more than tax incentives and the availability of land. For businesses, critical factors include infrastructure readiness, utility connection costs, administrative processing times, access to finance and skilled workers, and the management company’s ability to resolve issues promptly. The practical experience of resident companies provides an objective basis for assessing whether the benefits offered by SEZs translate into favourable conditions for implementing investment projects.

The session will facilitate direct dialogue with businesses on the advantages and limitations of the existing SEZ framework. Particular attention will be paid to factors influencing site selection, the quality of investor support, the predictability of regulations and utility tariffs, the availability of utility capacity, and the effectiveness of government support measures. Participants will discuss which conditions matter most to investors and what changes are needed to improve the competitiveness of Russia’s SEZs.

The discussion will bring together existing and prospective SEZ residents, representatives of management companies, financial institutions and development institutions. Business representatives will share their experience across the full investment cycle, from selecting a site and obtaining resident status to constructing and commissioning a production facility. The session will result in proposals to improve operating conditions within SEZs, reduce investment risks, and establish a clearer, more predictable system of project support tailored to business needs.

As special economic zones (SEZs) develop, the role of their management companies is expanding considerably. Alongside developing infrastructure and supporting resident companies, they must establish sustainable business models that reduce reliance on public funding and allow revenues to be reinvested in the zones’ further development. Financial self-sufficiency, however, should not come at the expense of residents through increased costs or less favourable conditions for investment projects.

The session will examine the practical experience of SEZ management companies that are progressively increasing the share of revenue generated through their own activities. Particular attention will be paid to generating income from land and property assets, operating utility networks, providing additional services to residents, and developing industrial, business and social infrastructure. Participants will discuss approaches to setting tariffs, attracting private investment, and striking an appropriate balance between management companies’ commercial activities and public responsibilities.

The discussion will bring together representatives of federal and regional authorities, SEZ management companies, development institutions, financial institutions and resident businesses. SEZ executives will present case studies on achieving operational sustainability, successful commercial approaches, and mistakes that other zones can learn from. The session will result in proposals to strengthen management companies’ revenue bases while maintaining competitive conditions for investors.