Sverdlovsk Region boosts SMEs with tax cuts and direct government support
The seventh Big Open Dialogue forum wrapped up in Yekaterinburg last week, bringing together business leaders, investors, and government officials. Discussions centred on improving cooperation, addressing challenges, and reinforcing support for small and medium-sized enterprises in the Sverdlovsk Region.
Governor Denis Pasler announced an extension of reduced tax rates for companies under the simplified taxation system. This move followed direct appeals from local businesses struggling with high tax burdens. While exact figures remain unverified, preliminary reports from the Federal Ministry of Finance suggest around 150,000 applications—mostly from retail, services, and agriculture—have been submitted since the policy's introduction in December 2023.
Forum participants raised concerns over technological connectivity issues but also praised the Sverdlovsk Regional Entrepreneurship Support Fund for its active assistance. Business leaders shared practical examples of government backing, countering claims that small and medium-sized enterprises lack official support. Deputy Governor Dmitry Ionin even cited a personal case where he helped a business owner resolve a land plot dispute, illustrating the administration's hands-on approach. The region's investment appeal was another key topic. The Middle Urals offers strong logistics, a large sales market, and a skilled workforce, though infrastructure gaps and land allocation delays persist. Deputy Governor Ionin and Economy Minister Andrey Antipov explained how the Investment Promotion Agency works directly with investors, using a tailored formula: land availability, infrastructure quality, labour skills, and market access. Their goal is to streamline subsidies, tax breaks, and land provision under Governor Pasler's guidance.
The forum highlighted both progress and ongoing hurdles for Sverdlovsk's business community. Reduced tax rates and direct government intervention aim to ease burdens, while infrastructure and land issues remain priorities. Official data on the tax relief's impact is still pending final audits, expected after March 2026.
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