Development of free economic zone of the Astrakhan region: myth and reality

The article deals with the tasks, processes and problems demanding permission in the special economic zones formed in the territory of Russia as an institute of development of national economy in the conditions of import substitution policy. The Special Economic Zones (SEZ) being one of instruments of attraction of the foreign capital, diversification of economy, transfer of the industry of the country to an innovative way of development, act as the real driver of economic growth of regions. On the example of the special economic zone of the Astrakhan region the comparative characteristic of the main processes of its development is carried out; actual shortcomings of Lotos OJSC management are proved. T he author reveals unevenness and slowness of development, structural disproportions, low responsibility of stakeholders, insufficient activity of resident firms and the related groups, high degree of uncertainty of achievement of payback and efficiency of projects of the SEZ. The results of the carried-out analysis let implement the tasks of further development of the Astrakhan SEZ - attraction of considerable resources into the development of fields of natural resources, activization of geological and exploration works, technological improvement of the existing capacities, construction of new unique objects at the shipbuilding enterprises.