Putin says Russia still interested in foreign investors

MOSCOW, Dec 3 (PRIME) -- Russia is still interested in cooperation with foreign investors despite “the difficult times” and appreciates their attention to the country’s economy, President Vladimir Putin told the parliament Thursday.

“We are interested in broad business cooperation with foreign partners. We welcome investors who are aimed at long-term work on our market even despite the current circumstances that are not always simple. We appreciate their favorable relation to our country, to those advantages that they see for development of their business here,” he said.

He offered the government to allow regions to cut the profit tax to zero under for investment contracts. “We guarantee stable tax and other conditions for investors who are ready to invest in import substitution projects. It is envisaged in a special investment contract mechanism. We offer the right for regions to cut the profit tax to zero under such contracts,” he said.

Putin also offered to allow the government to buy up to 30% of production made under special investment contracts without any tenders.

The Russian government should also develop suggestions for improvement of the corporate bond market and remove taxes on income from corporate bonds. “We should more actively use internal savings to upgrade the economy,” he said.

“I request the government to submit suggestions for development of the corporate bond market, we need to simplify the order of their issue and purchase so that it is profitable for investors, citizens, to invest in development of domestic production, I offer to exempt coupon yields from these bonds of taxes, including from the personal income tax.”

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