Two-thirds of residents of priority development zones (PDZs) in the Far East plan to expand their businesses. Such data are based on a survey conducted by VTB among representatives of medium and small businesses in the Far East within the framework of EEF-2024.
More than half of overseas companies also have similar intentions, the study also showed, with two-thirds of ASEZ residents and more than half of non-residents planning to expand their businesses in their respective sectors.
According to the study, one-third of overseas companies plan to obtain ASEZ resident status in the coming years. At the same time, the study participants noted that the main advantages of ASEZ for business development include tax breaks, access to infrastructure and cheap land.
As VTB board member Ruslan Eremenko said, about 30% of ASEZ residents in the Far East region chose VTB as a financial partner.
“In total, we serve more than 600 medium and small businesses – residents of ASEZ and the Vladivostok Free Port with an investment portfolio of 522 billion rubles. They make a significant contribution to the development of the investment climate and regional economies, so the bank is interested in their full support,” Eremenko said.
He explained that the bank plans to work with future residents of international priority development zones. According to him, the MTOR mechanism will be put into operation in the Far East in 2025.
It was noted that the survey was conducted among medium and small enterprises registered in the Far Eastern Federal District in August 2024. The topic was interest in business development within the ASEZ. More than 100 SME representatives participated in the survey, 50% of which have the status of residents in priority development zones.
VTB previously reported that more than 50% of Otkritie’s active customers, consisting of medium and small businesses, have switched to receiving services from the bank. The transition of the entire active SME customer base is planned to be fully completed in October, and the entire Otkritie office network will be rebranded by the end of the year.
Source: Gazeta
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