Activation of the foreign economic activity of Karelia in the early 1990s

The border status of the Republic of Karelia has certain economic advantages in trading with foreign partners; therefore, analysis of the foreign economic experience is always an important and urgent issue for the region. This article analyzes regulations and activities, which transformed Karelia into a free economic zone in the early 1990s. For the first time, based on the previously unpublished documents of the National Archives of the Republic of Karelia, a detailed description of the federal documents is provided. A certain degree of their influence on the region’s foreign economic activity in the period of the formation of market relations is determined. In addition, the study revealed basic administrative measures undertaken by the regional leadership to adapt to the status of the republic as a free economic zone. We substantiated a conclusion that in conditions of the economic crisis and sharp deterioration of the internal economic relations the received privilege in the foreign economic activity gave the republic an opportunity to increase business relations with foreign partners significantly, which had a positive effect on the state of the consumer market and economy at large