New River Port Approved for Russia's Kulibin Special Economic Zone in Nizhny Novgorod Region

Strategic Expansion in Nizhny Novgorod

An interdepartmental working group in the Russian Federation has officially approved the expansion of the Kulibin Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Nizhny Novgorod Region. This significant development includes the establishment of a new river port and additional production facilities. The approval, reported on November 1, 2025, marks a strategic move to enhance the region's logistical capabilities and international trade connections.

The expansion will incorporate a new 117.7-hectare site located in the town of Bor, complementing the existing SEZ site in Dzerzhinsk. Following this addition, the total area of the Kulibin SEZ is set to increase by over 15%, reaching 842 hectares.

Multimodal Port to Boost Trade

The centerpiece of this expansion is the planned multimodal river port in Bor. Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin stated that 'A distinctive feature of the Bor site will be a multimodal port. We expect it to boost river freight volumes significantly and enable Nizhny Novgorod companies to access international markets via the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea basin.' This initiative is aligned with Russia's broader strategy of reorienting its supply chains towards Asian markets.

The development is expected to capitalize on Nizhny Novgorod's strategic location as the sixth-largest city in Russia and the second-most populous on the Volga River, Europe's longest river. The berth in Bor was transferred from federal ownership to the Nizhny Novgorod Region in April 2024, specifically to facilitate the creation of this multimodal cargo port.

Investment and Economic Incentives

The Kulibin SEZ, established in May 2020, offers attractive preferential terms to its residents. These include:

• Reduced income tax rates: 2% for the first five years after receiving first profit, 5% for the subsequent five years, and 14.5% thereafter.
• Zero rates for property, land, and transport taxes.

Already, ten companies operating in sectors such as metalworking, logistics, and the agro-industrial complex have signed letters of intent to implement investment projects at the new site. The expansion is anticipated to further stimulate economic growth and job creation within the region.