The Real Cost of Operating a Business in Russia in 2024: A Full Breakdown for Foreign Companies
One of the most common mistakes international businesses make when evaluating Russia market entry is building a cost model from outdated benchmarks or romanticised assumptions about low Russian operating costs. The reality in 2024 is nuanced: some costs are genuinely lower than comparable Western markets, while others particularly compliance, banking, and talent in specialised sectors […]
FEMA & RBI Rules for Indians Working in Russia 2025: Remittances, Sanctions & Compliance Guide
India’s position on Russia is unusual. When Western countries imposed sweeping sanctions after February 2022, India kept to its policy of strategic autonomy: it kept trading with Russia, kept importing Russian energy and did not join the sanctions coalition. For Indian nationals working in Russia, that opens doors, but it also means two sets of […]
Banking in Russia for Foreigners 2025: Sberbank, VTB, Sanctions & Your Real Options
Opening a bank account in Russia as a foreign national was already a multi-step process before 2022. Since then, sweeping Western sanctions have cut many of Russia’s largest banks off from SWIFT and from Western correspondent banks, made transfers to most Western countries slow or impossible, and left Russia-issued Visa and Mastercard cards unusable outside […]
FNS Registration for Foreign Workers in Russia 2025: Complete Tax & Compliance Guide
If you are moving to Russia for work, one of the most critical administrative steps you must complete is registering with the Federal Tax Service of Russia known in Russian as the Federalnaya Nalogovaya Sluzhba, or FNS. Without proper FNS registration, you cannot legally receive a salary, open a bank account in many institutions, or comply with Russian tax […]
Russia Tax Guide 25% CIT (Raised 2025!), SEZ, IT Incentives 0–5%, Sanctions & India DTAA (2026)
Russia’s tax system went through dramatic changes in 2025, with the corporate income tax (CIT) rate raised from 20% to 25% the highest in the past decade. Yet for foreign investors, particularly from India, incentives remain: accredited IT companies pay 5% CIT for 2025–2030 (the 0% rate ended in 2024; source: Interfax), Skolkovo and Special […]
Work Permit, Turquoise Card & Teknopark Visa in Türkiye: Complete 2025–2026 Guide
Türkiye offers several legal pathways for foreign nationals to live and work legally from standard work permits for employees of Turkish companies to the prestigious Turquoise Card (Türkiye’s equivalent of a Green Card) for highly qualified professionals and entrepreneurs, plus the specialized Teknopark Visa for R&D and technology professionals. For Indian, Pakistani, European, Middle Eastern, and Asian founders, employees, and investors planning to […]
Türkiye vs UAE vs Saudi Arabia: Business Setup Comparison for Foreign Companies (2025–2026)
For companies expanding into the Middle East and Türkiye region, three destinations dominate the conversation: Türkiye, the UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi), and Saudi Arabia (KSA). Each offers a distinct value proposition and choosing the wrong base can mean years of corrective restructuring, missed market opportunities, or unnecessary tax burdens. For Indian, Pakistani, European, and Asian founders evaluating where to establish their […]
Cost of Setting Up a Company in Türkiye (2025–2026): Registration, Office, Payroll & Tax
Türkiye consistently ranks as one of the more cost-efficient markets in Europe and the Middle East for business setup but “cost-efficient” is relative, and the full picture requires understanding every layer of expense from Day 1 registration through ongoing monthly operations. For Indian, Pakistani, European, and Middle Eastern founders, understanding these costs upfront is critical for budgeting, fundraising, and determining […]
FEMA & RBI Compliance for Indian Companies Setting Up in Türkiye (2025–2026)
Indian companies expanding into Türkiye face a dual compliance challenge: meeting Turkish corporate requirements locally and satisfying India’s Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations for Overseas Direct Investment (ODI). Missing either side of this compliance equation can trigger severe penalties under FEMA, RBI compounding proceedings, interest charges, or even repatriation demands on your overseas investments. For Indian […]
Opening a Business Bank Account in Türkiye: İşbank vs Garanti vs Ziraat (2025–2026)
Opening a business bank account is one of the first practicaland most criticalsteps after company incorporation in Türkiye. For foreign founders from India, Pakistan, Europe, and beyond, this process can also be one of the most frustrating stages of setting up your Turkish entity. Banks in Türkiye enforce strict KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements, compliance checks have […]