VLADIVOSTOK, September 7 (Itar-Tass) — Rosneft President Igor Sechin offered to the countries in the Asia-Pacific Region to reduce the import duties on oil, which is produced on the Russian shelf. Sechin asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to assist in this issue.
“Vladimir Vladimirovich, can I hope that the leaders of the countries in the Asia-Pacific Region will consider an opportunity for lower import duties and other fees for the produce and the raw materials, which are produced in the implementation of the shelf projects,” he asked.
“This decision could have contributed to the reduction of the risks for private investors that would create additional capacities for the promotion of this produce under the condition of reinvestments of these funds in new projects,” Sechin believes. He recalled that last April Putin in the capacity of the prime minister signed a decree on the measures to support major investment projects, which are being implemented on the shelf for the production of hydrocarbons.
“Meanwhile, Russia will subsidize the promotion of this produce on the markets in the Asia-Pacific Region, and a reciprocal decision to bring down the import duties would support these projects,” Sechin noted.
For his part, Putin noted that “this is primarily a question to the leaders of the APEC states.” “I cannot say it for them, whether they will reduce import customs duties,” he explained. “But in general, when we are speaking about the creation of a common market, a free trade zone, we will advance in this direction,” the president added.