Russia SEZ and ASEZ for Chinese investors: CIT 0% for 5 years (Far East), social contributions 7.6%, customs exemptions and minimum investment thresholds.
Russia operates several preferential investment zone types offering reduced CIT, customs exemptions and administrative facilitation. For Chinese manufacturing and logistics investment, these zones provide cost advantages that are material at scale. No government commission approval is required for Chinese investors — unlike European investors, Chinese companies can establish SEZ/ASEZ resident entities on standard commercial timelines.
Key SEZs for Chinese investors: Lipetsk (household appliances — Haier, Midea already present), Alabuga/Tatarstan (automotive, chemicals — Russia's largest industrial SEZ), Togliatti (automotive, logistics).
The social contribution saving alone is transformative for labour-intensive operations. For 200 employees at RUB 80,000/month average salary: annual social contribution saving of approximately RUB 53 million vs standard rate.
Key Far East ASEZs: Nadezhdinskaya (Primorsky Krai, 60km from Vladivostok, 150km from Chinese border), Khabarovsk, Belogorsk (Amur, near Heihe border crossing).
For Chinese companies with Far East-facing supply chains, Far East ASEZs offer the most favourable tax package in Russia combined with geographic proximity. The RUB 500,000 minimum investment threshold is exceptionally low — accessible to SME investors. For larger manufacturing investment targeting the broader Russian market, Central Russia SEZs (Lipetsk, Alabuga) offer more developed infrastructure and proximity to the major consumer market.
Related service: Company registration →Practical support for international business in Russia.