Ingush SEZ signed

The Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and the Republic of Ingushetia have signed an agreement to create a special economic zone (SEZ) for tourism and recreation in the territory of the Djeirakh and Sunzha Districts of Ingushetia.

As earlier reported by the "Caucasian Knot", on September 29, 2011, Ingushetia held a presentation of the concept of a would-be SEZ in the Sunzha and Djeirakh Districts, where it is planned to create mountainous-tourist complexes "Tsori" and "Armkhi" within the federal project of tourism development in the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD). The document on creation of the tourist-recreational SEZ was signed by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on December 29, 2011.

According to Oleg Saveliev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, the first stage of the project will be commissioned somewhat 2015-2016. The entire project is designed for 10 years, the RBC reports.

"The territory allocated for the SEZ has several advantages allowing us to build a tourist complex capable to accommodate some 28-30,000 tourists. Besides, the project takes into account possibilities of recreation for people with disabilities and pensioners," the RIA "Novosti" quotes Yunus-Bek Evkurov, the head of Ingushetia, as saying.

When asked about possible security measures, Mr Evkurov said that "nothing special needs to be done," because the republic "is safe; the main point for you is not to slip down and fall."

According to the Ministry of Economic Development, the declared amount of investments of SEZ residents will make about 27 billion roubles.