Kulibin SEZ Expert Council Approves Five New Projects Worth More Than RUB 19 Billion

The Expert Council for the Development of the Kulibin Special Economic Zone in the Nizhny Novgorod Region has approved applications from five companies. The total announced investment exceeds RUB 19 billion. The projects cover the chemical industry, metallurgy, shipbuilding, and the production of high-tech products.

The council meeting was chaired by Andrey Sanosyan, Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

“The Kulibin SEZ continues to grow steadily and is becoming one of the region’s most sought-after manufacturing sites. Investors are actively joining the zone, and the total volume of approved investments has already exceeded RUB 167 billion,” Andrey Sanosyan noted.

New Residents of the Kulibin SEZ

The approved projects include:

• Pyurus LLC will build a plant producing high-purity gases for the electronics industry, including semiconductor manufacturing and other high-tech components. Investment will exceed RUB 200 million, and 55 new jobs will be created.
• Chaika Center for Modular Shipbuilding LLC will implement a project to establish a modular shipbuilding center. The company will manufacture specialized platforms for construction in marine and inland waters, underwater facility inspections, and marine surveys. Investment will amount to RUB 350 million, with 34 new jobs planned.
• Skynet LLC will launch the production of cable products for various industrial sectors. The project will receive RUB 250 million in investment and create 25 new jobs.
• Volga Stankoprivod LLC will establish import-substituting production of key components for computer numerical control machines. Investment will amount to RUB 145 million, and 15 new jobs will be created.
• The fifth project is a large-scale chemical production facility. The investor plans to invest RUB 18.4 billion and create 484 jobs. It will become one of the most significant projects in the history of the Kulibin SEZ.

Resident Support and Development of the Zone

The Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation serves as the management company of the special economic zone.

“We are actively expanding the range of products that will be manufactured within the Kulibin SEZ. It is particularly important that many of these projects are focused on import substitution and meeting the critical needs of Russian industry. As the management company, we provide residents with comprehensive support at every stage of project implementation,” emphasized Igor Ishchenko, CEO of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Development Corporation.

Background and Incentives

Since 2025, the development of investment activity has formed part of the federal project under the Efficient and Competitive Economy national project, initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Its main objective is to create clear and predictable conditions for businesses, ensure a fair distribution of risks, and provide investors with systematic support measures.

The Nizhny Novgorod Region traditionally performs strongly in the National Investment Climate Rating compiled by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. In 2025, the region once again ranked second in the country.

The Kulibin industrial-production special economic zone was established in May 2020 in Dzerzhinsk. In 2023, its area was expanded tenfold to 724 hectares. In November 2025, the Russian Government approved a further expansion of the zone to 842 hectares through the addition of a site in the Bor District.

SEZ residents benefit from substantial tax incentives. The corporate income tax rate is reduced from 25% to 2% for the first five years, to 5% for the following five years, and to 14.5% thereafter. Residents are also exempt from property, land, and transport taxes.

The procedure for obtaining resident status includes selecting a site jointly with the management company, registering a legal entity in Dzerzhinsk, submitting an application, presenting the project to the Expert Council, and signing a tripartite agreement. The Russian Ministry of Economic Development then issues an official resident certificate.