The Customs Union consisting of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, may
have a single visa, similar to Shengen, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports.
The Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Andrey Slepnev, said
that the initiative will be discussed next year and is expected to
come into force in 2012. The documents have already been signed, he
said.
A single visa would allow foreigners to enter the territory of Russia
using a Belarusian or Kazakh visa.
The Commission of the Customs Union will be given new powers. In
addition to customs regulation, it will be setting common rules for
technical regulation and anti-monopolistic activities. Slepnev
clarified that they plan to make it an independent structure. The
commission is supervised by vice-premiers. The sessions are held once
in a month and chairing is by rotation. Decisions are made by two
thirds of votes.
Slepnev said that the CIS members plan to sign an agreement on
establishing a free trade zone in spring. There will be a common
customs rate and the lifting of customs control on internal borders.
CIS members will trade with each other without import duties. All
members of the CIS are taking part in the negotiations.
In mid-2011 the Agency for Insuring Export Credits and Investments
will be launched. The structure will allow Russian partners to insure
their commercial and political risks. Discussions on establishing such
an agency have been going for 10 years. Slepnev said that Superjet is
the first project to receive support from the agency. The Ministry of
Economic Development agreed with the Finance Ministry to organize the
agency as a joint stock company, as a subsidiary of the Bank for
Development and Foreign Economic Affairs. 30 billion rubles have
already been reserved for the bank. Foreign partners are supporting
the project. Russian support is needed. The agency will provide
services for medium businesses specializing in high-tech industry, as
well as large corporations.
