MOSCOW, April 18 (RAPSI) - On Thursday the lower house property committee recommended that the State Duma adopt a government-sponsored bill on public-private partnerships in the first reading. The bill is aimed at expanding the opportunities for cooperation between the government and businesses and at making investment in long term infrastructure projects more attractive.

The bill lays out the principles of government regulation in this sphere and the competence of the federal, regional and municipal governments in implementing public-private partnership projects. It also provides guarantees for the rights and interests of private investors and creditors.

The bill stipulates a choice of formats or combinations of formats for participating in such projects depending on the project's objectives. It also includes the option of private ownership in the facility in question.

Partnership contracts are to be awarded on a competitive basis.

The bill includes amendments to the Tax Code to ensure a comprehensive account of operations taxable under public-private partnership agreements. It also adds the criteria for putting the property involved in these agreements on the list of properties subject to depreciation.