The failure must be considered a major blow to the Murmansk regional administration, as well as to the Murmansk Transport Hub company, an infrastructure development company headed by Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin.
However, the chances to get the prestigeous status might still not be all lost. A second tender will be held in fall this year, a press release from the Ministry of Economic Development reads.
Khabarovsk
Only one of the 17 bidders won status as special economic zone. An expert commission concluded that the sea port of Khabarovsk in the Russian Far East had the best application.
The commission highly valued a number of applications. However, at the same time the expert members highlighted the need for further elaboration of the applications, especially what concerns the need for additional infrastructure like roads and railways.
Shtokman
The ports of Murmansk are considered of paramount importance for Gazprom and its partners in the Shtokman gas project. Major plans have been made for the port as part of a huge infrastructure development of the region. The development plans are headed by the Murmansk Transport Hub company
The special status secures a number of tax and investment benefits for the ports.
