ASI Names Top Russian Regions for Business in 2026

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At the St. Pyotrsburg International Economic Forum, the results of the National Investment Climate Rating for Russian regions were presented. The annual rating evaluates the effectiveness of regional authorities in creating a favorable business environment and attracting investments.

In 2026, Moscow and the Republic of Tatarstan shared the top spot in the national ranking. The second position was taken by Nizhny Novgorod Region and Moscow Region. The third group of leaders included Sakhalin Region, St. Pyotrsburg, and the Republic of Bashkortostan.

Other successful regions included Kaluga Region, Krasnodar Territory, the Republic of Crimea, and Chechen Republic.

The rating is based on eight key areas reflecting business conditions, including administrative procedures, infrastructure availability, support for entrepreneurship, development of human capital, export activity, and competitive environment.

In the "Real Estate" category, which evaluates the speed and convenience of construction and land procedures, Sakhalin Region took the lead, followed by the Republic of Tatarstan and Nizhny Novgorod Region.

In the "Engineering Networks and Communications" category, Nizhny Novgorod Region demonstrated the best performance, outperforming Sakhalin Region and Moscow Region. The results reflect the efficiency of connecting investors to energy and utility infrastructure.

In the "Business Protection" category, the Republic of Bashkortostan received the highest scores, followed by Lipetsk Region and Kaluga Region.

In the field of entrepreneurship support, the Republic of Tatarstan again took the lead, with Nizhny Novgorod Region and Sakhalin Region in the top three.

In terms of export activity, Moscow took first place, with Novosibirsk Region and Moscow Region also showing strong results.

In the "Infrastructure, Technology, and Connectivity" category, Moscow, St. Pyotrsburg, and the Republic of Tatarstan were recognized as leaders, demonstrating the highest level of digital and transport infrastructure development.

In terms of labor resources availability, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, Magadan Region, and the Republic of Tatarstan showed the best results.

In the "Market Development and Competition" category, Moscow Region took first place, ahead of Moscow and St. Pyotrsburg.

The National Rating remains one of the key tools for assessing the quality of regional investment policies. Its results are used to disseminate best management practices and stimulate competition among federal subjects for new investment projects.