The Commission of the State Council of the Russian Federation discussed the rules for the return of foreign companies.

      October 23, 2025 16:58 Politics The State Council of the Russian Federation’s Commission on "Investments" discussed mechanisms for the possible return of foreign companies to the Russian market. The meeting, chaired by the governor of Sakhalin Oblast Valery Limarenko, was devoted to developing approaches that would take into account the interests of domestic businesses that emerged after 2022.

      According to Limarenko, when considering the resumption of foreign companies’ activities in Russia, the key principle should be "do no harm to our own." He emphasized the need to protect Russian projects that have appeared over the past two to three years as a result of the departure of foreign players.

      The commission proposed differentiating the approach to companies’ return depending on their scale — large, medium, or small businesses. A set of criteria will also be developed, which will be determined following individual negotiations with potential investors. Business associations should play an important role in this process.

      Deputy Minister of Economic Development Denis Tyupyshev reminded that after 2022 some foreign companies, especially from socially significant sectors, continued to operate in Russia. Some transferred management to Russian partners, others changed their names, and others completely exited the market, selling off assets.

      Tyupyshev noted that Russia remains open to bona fide foreign investors. However, now not only the mere fact of return matters, but also the "investor profile." In particular, the circumstances of a company’s exit from the market will be taken into account, as will the preservation of jobs, the absence of debts to the state and employees, and non-participation in actions directed against the interests of the Russian Federation.

      One possible condition for return may be the transfer of technologies and commitments to localize production. The possibility of creating joint ventures, developing scientific and technological centers, training local specialists, and restricting dividend repatriation for a certain period is also being discussed.

      The coordinator of foreign participants of the Advisory Council on Foreign Investments (ACFI), Alexander Ivlev, proposed creating a register of bona fide foreign investors — companies that remained on the Russian market despite external difficulties and continued to pay taxes, salaries, and produce goods. Such companies could be granted a simplified approval procedure and access to state support measures.

      Executive Vice President of the RSPP Maria Glukhova supported the idea of creating transparent criteria and added that the return of foreign companies should be accompanied by investment commitments and full integration into the Russian production and management chain.

      The president of OPORA Russia, Alexander Kalinin, in turn reminded that small businesses in Russia have already adapted to the competitive environment. However, in his view the return of foreign players should be carefully analyzed in terms of potential impact on segments where monopolization was previously observed, for example in the clothing industry. He proposed using the organization’s expert capacity to assess risks and prevent the re-concentration of the market.

      Earlier it was reported that the State Council discussed the development of industrial exports.

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