Authorities to list the companies that left Russia "in a toxic way"
When assessing applications from foreign companies wishing to return to the Russian market, the authorities plan to rank them depending on whether they left Russia in a civilized manner. This is reported by news magazine Expert, citing two sources close to the government and a source familiar with discussions of the issue.
In particular, it is planned to compile a list of companies whose departure was "toxic". Companies will be divided into "bad guys" (those whose departure or subsequent actions were toxic to Russia) and decent ones (those who fulfilled their obligations to employees, creditors, etc. before leaving), one source told the publication. The requirements for the former will be stricter.
As frequently reported earlier, all applications from companies wishing to return will be evaluated by a subcommittee of the government commission on foreign investment. Earlier, President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to prepare and approve criteria for the return of businesses from so-called unfriendly countries. These criteria have not yet been made public.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has already formulated the conditions that must be met for companies to resume operating on the Russian market, although there is no substantive talk about the return of foreign businesses yet, Alexei Matushansky, director of the ministry's department of strategic development and corporate policy, said at the Innoprom-2025 forum. "We need, of course, to look at how the companies left, whether they abandoned the people who worked for them, and what rhetoric they used. In involves a comprehensive approach. And in terms of the conditions for operating in Russia and control over the asset, these will be tougher than before. But so far we do not see people lining up to return," the official said.
An unnamed Industry and Trade Ministry official quoted by Expert said that Russia's priority format for admitting foreigners to the Russian market could be the creation of joint ventures with domestic companies. "Russian businesses made a strong impression in difficult circumstances, demonstrating the ability to develop and to enter new commodity markets despite the breakdown of chains of co-operation. An important task is therefore to protect the emerging opportunities for domestic companies to flourish," he explained.
He added that in those segments where there is no need for co-operation with foreign manufacturers, and the segment is completely covered by Russian companies, it will be much more difficult for foreign companies to return. But if the Russian market would gain from broad and mutually beneficial technological and investment cooperation, it is planned to collaborate with such companies on an individual basis and impose additional obligations on them, for example to localise and reinvest their profits.