Yuri Chebotar: The Minsk Free Economic Zone will become the first site of the Belarusian-Russian innovation cluster

According to the minister, a working group has been established over the past year to develop the regulatory framework necessary for the cluster's operation. The selection of a suitable site is also under active discussion.

Chebotar noted that the initial phase would involve using the Minsk Free Economic Zone, which would allow for the utilization of existing infrastructure and facilitate the attraction of economic entities. "This first step would demonstrate a success story, which we could build on," the minister emphasized.

In the future, it is planned to develop special regimes that will differ significantly from those in force in Russia, Bashkortostan, and Belarus, including issues of incentive fees, confirmation, and subsidies.

Chebotar expressed confidence that the current discussions will resolve issues related to site selection, cluster participants, and the development of the legal framework. He also expressed hope that the next event will present a vision and a "mini-master class" for the entire project.

Reference: The Russian-Belarusian Investment Cluster is being established in Russia and Belarus on a mirror-image basis, with an unprecedented set of investor support measures, including exemptions from property and land taxes, reduced income tax rates and employee insurance premiums, rapid turnkey construction of production infrastructure tailored to individual investor requirements, the construction of comfortable rental housing, subsidies for infrastructure creation and modernization, R&D subsidies, and an exemption from recycling fees.