This is the third year in a row: the export of companies-residents of FEZ "Minsk" exceeded $1.3 billion last year.
The territory of great opportunities
On the meeting with EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti in Minsk in early February, Prime Minister Sergei Rumas expressed interest in new ambitious projects with this European institution. In particular, it is planned to implement a new initiative of building of energy infrastructure in free economic zones. The substation "Cherkassy" in Fanipol, the territory of FEZ "Minsk", was named as a pilot project. How this territory will be developed and what new projects will be implemented in the free economic zone in the near future - "R" asked Dmitry Rudchenko, the Chairman of FEZ "Minsk" Administration.
Growth dynamics
- Dmitry, before talking about the plans, let's sum up the results of 2019. How successful has it become for FEZ "Minsk"?
- Of course, the year 2019 for the free economic zone "Minsk" was marked by positive results: the export of FEZ residents was $1.315 billion with a growth rate of 118%. The good news is that for the third year this amount exceeds $1 billion. This, in turn, indicates a steady dynamics in the growth rate of exports of our companies. By the way, our products are exported to 80 countries worldwide.
And some more statistics. More than 1,500 jobs have been created in new industries. The growth was 132%. During the reporting period 92 million dollars of investments were attracted. An important indicator is the amount of taxes, fees and payments paid to the budget and extrabudgetary funds. So, according to the results of the year it amounted to 342 million rubles, which is 21% more than in 2018.
115 resident companies are currently engaged in production in FEZ "Minsk," 57 of them - with foreign investment. The activity of enterprises covers various spheres: mechanical engineering and metal processing, automotive industry, woodworking, construction materials, electronics and polygraphy.
- How many new resident companies have recently been registered in FEZ "Minsk" and what projects will be implemented in the near future?
- Last year the FEZ administration registered 17 new resident companies. Most of the projects are focused on the production of woodworking products and metal products. For example, in Molodechno, the new company will organize the production of specialized steel containers for the transportation of goods by various means of transport. And in Zhodino an import-substituting project will be implemented to produce vandal-proof water meters. In Borisov, the Belarusian-Danish company launched an investment project to produce wooden doors and windows using Scandinavian technology.
Also, last year, previously registered FEZ residents continued to implement their investment projects. In particular, in the first quarter of this year the building of a plant for the production of flexible packaging will be completed in the Shabany industrial zone. Another company of the international German concern begins construction of a complex for production of industrial components for drive and electric drive equipment.
The territory near Privolny, Minsk District, is also actively developing. There, one of the residents, involved in furniture production, is building an additional production and warehouse complex with the total area of 16,600 square meters. The Belarusian-English company, which is implementing a project to assemble cars, is modernizing its production. A new car welding and painting shop has been built, and the modernization of the assembly shop is being completed.
In the territory of Minsk National Airport the FEZ “Minsk” company implements the investment project on building of aircraft repair factory, more precisely a complex of flushing and painting of planes. The building of the complex will begin in the first quarter of this year, the declared investment in the project implementation is more than $50 million. It is planned that the new complex will be able to serve up to 50 airplanes per year.
New projects
- What about the companies registered this year?
This year, FEZ «Minsk» administration has already registered three residents who are starting to implement significant investment projects. For example, production of air conditioning systems for railway passenger cars is being created. The products will also be exported. Another company in the Shabany industrial zone will produce road-building machinery. This year the company will carry out the assembly on the rental areas, and later it will build a new plant in Fanipol. Another resident plans to organize production of innovative high-tech equipment and air filtration systems.
- It was declared that the territory near Fanipol is the territory of perspective development. How is it developing and what projects are planned to be implemented there?
- Indeed, the development of FEZ territory in the area of Fanipol is one of our priorities today. The growth point for development will be the construction of the Cherkassy electrical substation and a high pressure gas pipeline, as well as the engineering and transport infrastructure facilities necessary for their operation. These are serious projects that require huge capital investments.
Currently a stage-by-stage development of this territory is taking place — 12 FEZ residents are engaged in production activities here, and 4 more companies are undergoing the stages of approval and obtaining land plots. It should be noted that in accordance with the Development plan more than 50 investment plots on the FEZ territory in Fanipol (ranging in size from 1.2 to 11.2 hectares) with a total area of about 190 hectares are intended for the implementation of new investment projects by FEZ “Minsk” residents.