AIRR Regions Among the Leading Special Economic Zone Efficiency Experts

According to the assessment by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, AIRR regions are among the leaders in the efficiency of special economic zones. This follows from the annual report for 2025.
The Republic of Tatarstan emerged as the leader among industrial and production special economic zones in 2025, receiving the maximum efficiency rating of 100%. Furthermore, the republic's technology implementation SEZ also ranked among the best, receiving a score of 97% for the year.

The following industrial and production SEZs also ranked among the leaders:
• Lipetsk Region - 97% (3rd place);
• Kaluga Region - 97% (4th place);
• The Republic of Bashkortostan - 95% (6th place);
• Samara Region - 93% (8th place).

Overall, the special economic zone mechanism continues to demonstrate high efficiency, according to the Russian Ministry of Economic Development. Over the course of the assessed SEZs' operation, residents invested 4.46 trillion rubles and created nearly 150,000 jobs. There are 1,334 registered residents in the SEZs, with 181 new companies joining in 2025 alone. Residents' revenues over the entire period of the zones' operation amounted to 5.74 trillion rubles, of which 1.66 trillion rubles were generated in 2025. The report also highlights the SEZs' contribution to Russia's non-resource, non-energy exports—approximately 260 billion rubles.

The budgetary impact remains a key performance indicator for special economic zones. The establishment of the SEZs has fully paid for itself for the Russian budget system: over the entire period, residents have contributed 752.2 billion rubles in taxes, customs duties, and insurance premiums. This amount exceeded the total government spending on the creation of SEZ infrastructure and the benefits provided to residents by 92.9 billion rubles.

Other AIRR regions also demonstrated high performance. The special economic zones of the Novgorod Region (84%) and Nizhny Novgorod Region (82%) were recognized as effective. In the Vladimir Region, the Vladimir SEZ (78%) and Dobrograd-1 (75%) performed well, reflecting their ongoing development and increasing investment activity. The special economic zones of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra continued to strengthen their positions, receiving ratings of 74% and 62%, respectively.

Over the entire period of operation of the special economic zones, the top five included Lipetsk Region (97%), Kaluga Region (96%), and the Republic of Tatarstan (95%). Samara Region maintained a high score of 93%, Nizhny Novgorod Region (84%), and the Republic of Bashkortostan (80%).

According to Alexander Smekalin, Director of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR), the assessment results indicate that the Association's regions continue to develop the most effective platforms for implementing investment projects, developing high-tech industries, and attracting private capital. A significant portion of the country's most successful special economic zones are concentrated in these regions.