The Government of the Russian Federation has approved amendments to the Act on the Activities of NCBs initiated by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, which expand the list of activities of socially oriented non-profit organizations (SONCO).

SONCO will now be eligible for the status of SONCO. This will allow them to apply for dominance and victims to receive tax deductions.

" The NCB is not only a social institution but also an economic one. Its contribution to the economy is estimated at 1.5 per cent of GDP. The activities of public and non-profit organizations in the field of improvement will now also be relevant to the activities of SONCO, which will enable them to benefit from preferences and dominance, and victims will also be tax-free. In the past year alone, business returned more than 16 billion roubles for donations to SONCO, noted the Deputy Minister for Economic Development of Russia, Tatiana Ilumshnikov.

The initiative will address, inter alia, the work of territorial public administrations (TOCs). The practice of the TEC on the improvement of the territories is widespread in municipalities. Such organizations may, for example, develop territorial development projects, create sports spaces and recreational spaces and engage in greening.

Amendments to the law are also made to other NCBs that work towards the improvement of the territories - for example, the construction of children ' s and sports sites, the operation of the landscape, the design of recreational zones and the other.

" Such legislative initiatives are a positive trend that encourages business to pursue an eco-investment. On the other hand, this and the necessary support for those companies that are already actively implementing such programmes. For example, our network of shops has launched a dry feed packing eco-project: we use the retained plastic in the construction of cinema facilities, noted the co-owner of Chetira Lapa, Dmitri Chipin.

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