First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov announced that the Russian government plans to roll out a new national project by 2030 focused on boosting the growth and resilience of small and medium-sized businesses across the country. The update came through a report by TASS, highlighting a strategic push to unlock the export potential of SMEs while ramping up investment activity within the national project’s framework.
Belousov outlined concrete objectives aimed at strengthening the sector’s productivity and employment footprint. A target has been set to raise labor productivity in the SME segment by a quarter, while simultaneously expanding job opportunities for young workers. The plan signals a deliberate effort to modernize the SME ecosystem, making it more competitive on both national and international stages.
Several practical measures accompany these goals. Among them is the expansion of tax deductions to ease the cost of doing business for small enterprises. The government also intends to establish at least 100 technology parks nationwide, acting as hubs for innovation, digital transformation, and collaborative ventures between startups and established firms. In addition, there will be an emphasis on increasing procurement activity by large enterprises from SMEs, a move designed to strengthen demand for small firms’ goods and services and to improve their long-term viability.
Officials believe these steps will not only boost the number of newly established SMEs but also extend their operational lifespan by providing more stable revenue streams and better access to resources. The focus on technology parks reflects an emphasis on knowledge-intensive activities, digital tools, and modern management practices that can help small businesses scale more effectively.
Current data shows that a significant share of Russia’s small businesses operate within the trade sector. The national project, however, seeks to diversify the SME landscape by encouraging growth in other lines of business, including manufacturing, service provisions, logistics, and value-added sectors. This diversification is aimed at creating a more resilient economic fabric capable of withstanding shocks and seizing new market opportunities.
Early results and pilot efforts in October point to SMEs contributing to import substitution strategies, aligning with broader macroeconomic goals of reducing external dependencies and enhancing national self-sufficiency. By nurturing domestic suppliers, the initiative seeks to broaden the range of goods available to Russian consumers while improving competitiveness across industries.
Overall, the government’s stance reflects a growing recognition of entrepreneurship as a dynamic engine for employment, innovation, and regional development. While there is a natural emphasis on policy levers and programmatic milestones, the real measure will be how small and medium-sized enterprises adapt to evolving market conditions, access capital, and connect with global demand. The plan is designed to foster a more vibrant SME ecosystem that supports sustainable growth, drives productivity gains, and creates opportunities for young entrants to participate meaningfully in the economy, as reported by TASS and subsequent briefings from the Deputy Prime Minister’s office.
Contextual notes: The strategy aligns with ongoing efforts to balance growth with structural reform, encouraging SMEs to move beyond traditional domains and pursue diversified activities while maintaining a strong emphasis on export readiness, digital adoption, and collaboration with larger firms. Observers note that the success of such initiatives depends on clear implementation, transparent indicators, and consistent public-private collaboration to translate policy into measurable economic benefits. The public record confirms the government’s intent to pursue these targets through dedicated funding channels, oversight mechanisms, and performance reviews as part of the national project rollout. (Source: TASS reports and official briefings.)