Delegates from 57 countries took part in the VI Eastern Economic Forum.

According to preliminary data, 20 agreements were signed on the margins of the business platform by international and foreign companies.

Most of the contracts were signed with organizations from China, Japan and Kazakhstan.

The central event of the forum was the plenary session with the participation of Vladimir Putin.

As the head of state noted during his speech, the wide representation of the guests and participants of the forum suggests that "economic life is being restored and is entering its usual business course."

At the same time, the Russian leader paid special attention to the development of the Far East and the results that have been achieved in recent years.

“Over the past six years, the volume of accumulated direct foreign investments in the Far East has almost doubled and reached $ 80 billion. The industry of the region over these years has grown at a rate higher than the all-Russian one.

Industrial growth amounted to about 20%, which is twice as much as in the whole country, "Putin said.

According to him, as a result of the action of special mechanisms to support capital investments in the territories of advanced development (PDA) and in the free port of Vladivostok, over 2.5 thousand residents have registered.

At the same time, 68 thousand new jobs were created, the president stressed.

In total, in recent years, the authorities have allocated 81 billion rubles for the construction of infrastructure and the creation of tax incentives for investors in the Far East.

At the same time, to date, the state's expenses have already fully paid off.

This statement was made by the Deputy Prime Minister and Plenipotentiary of the President of Russia in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev.

“The budget revenues from the activities of enterprises, despite the fact that the enterprises worked in a preferential regime, amounted to 123.1 billion. That is, 42 billion of additional revenues were received by the budget, covering expenses.

We regard the development of the Far East as a fast-payback and highly profitable project, ”said Trutnev during the session“ Global Challenges and Opportunities for the Far East and the Arctic ”.

Island benefits

One of the most discussed topics of the EEF-2021 was Vladimir Putin's proposal to create additional benefits and incentives for those who invest in the economy of the Kuril Islands.

In particular, the president promised to exempt entrepreneurs in the Kuril Islands from basic taxes for ten years.

In addition, reduced insurance premiums of 7.6% will be established for them.

“In addition, a free customs zone will operate on the entire territory of the Kuril Islands, that is, it will be easier and more convenient to import goods, equipment and export finished products.

Within this zone, VAT will also not be charged until the goods leave the territory of the Kuril Islands, "Putin added.

Representatives of not only Russian business, but also foreign business will be able to take advantage of preferential tax conditions on the islands, the president emphasized.

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Note that back in 2017, a priority development area was created in the South Kuriles.

During the period of the TOR, the Sakhalin Region was able to attract over 20 billion rubles of private investment.

This was announced by the deputy chairman of the regional government Anton Zaitsev during the session "Restarting the island territories of the Far East - special conditions for investment."

New incentives and tax breaks will significantly increase the flow of funds to the region, as well as increase interest in working in the Kuril Islands from foreign companies.

This point of view in a conversation with RT was expressed by Georgy Ostapkovich, director of the Center for Market Research at the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge at the Higher School of Economics.

“The tool can be in demand, for example, among entrepreneurs from South Korea and Japan.

It is also pleasing that the preferences are limited in time and will not apply to the production of excisable goods, the production of hydrocarbons and valuable aquatic biological resources.

This policy helps to protect the region from unfair competition and consumer attitudes towards the Far East, ”the expert added.

Route through the North

Also, during his speech at the EEF, Vladimir Putin instructed to open regular cargo flights between Vladivostok and St. Petersburg along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) from 2022.

According to the President, it is necessary to carefully assess the prospects of such a transport corridor, but not to delay the process.

“This is an extremely important thing, we must definitely do it, and we will do it in the end, but we need to work out technologically, we need to equip the port infrastructure, ensure security, and so on.

But this is undoubtedly the future for world transportation from Asia to Europe and vice versa, ”the head of state emphasized.

The Russian leader noted that in 2020 the volume of traffic along the NSR amounted to 33 million tons.

At the same time, already in 2024, the figure may grow to 80 million, Putin is sure.

As the head of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, Alexei Chekunkov, said on the sidelines of the EEF, today the Northern Sea Route is ready for drastic changes.

This, in particular, is indicated by the dynamics of cargo turnover and the steady growth of traffic between Russian ports, the minister explained.

“Shipping along the Northern Sea Route shouldn't be a feat.

It should be a service, a commercial service - safe, profitable, fast ... Transportation on the NSR should in the future become as predictable as alternative routes ... We believe and will make all the necessary government efforts to provide international carriers in the foreseeable future with such a service, "Chekunkov said.

East direction

One of the topics discussed at the forum was the prospects for the restoration and development of domestic tourism.

So, according to the head of Rostourism Zarina Doguzova, the domestic tourist flow in Russia can completely return to pre-crisis values ​​by the end of 2021.

“In the first seven months of 2021, 31.5 million people stayed in hotels for at least one night.

At the same time, according to expert estimates, about the same number of tourists traveled without stopping in hotels ... The total number of Russians who traveled around the country was about 63 million over the past seven months.

This is a very good indicator, "Doguzova said in an interview with RT.

According to her, the tourist cashback program has provided significant assistance to the industry.

As a reminder, within the framework of this initiative, Russians traveling around the country can return up to 20% of the cost of the tour, but not more than 20 thousand rubles.

At the same time, during a meeting with the moderators of key sessions of the WEF, Vladimir Putin supported the idea of ​​doubling the maximum tourist cashback for the Far East - up to 40 thousand rubles.

“We are looking for opportunities to support business in the Far East, and the tourism business is a promising area, without any doubt,” the president emphasized.

On the sidelines of the forum, the issue of investment in the development of tourism in the Far East was also raised.

So, according to Zarina Doguzova, Rosturizm estimates the possible volume of investments in the region's industry at 250 billion rubles.

“Projects worth 95 billion rubles are either already in the process of being implemented, or in a high degree of elaboration.

And according to them, the main funds in the construction and renovation of hotels will be invested in the period until 2025, ”Doguzova said.

According to her, the rate subsidy has become a key measure to support investors. So, from 2021, projects worth 72 billion rubles will qualify for soft loans. This, in turn, will reduce the payback period of objects and make investment in tourism more attractive, the head of Rostourism believes.