Since the beginning of the year, 24 enterprises have been registered as residents of the Belarusian FEZ (of which 10 new residents were registered by the administration of the FEZ Minsk), which intend to implement projects with a total investment volume of over $ 440 million, Deputy Economy Minister of Belarus Pavel Utyupin said today in Vitebsk. meeting of heads of FEZ administrations.
According to Pavel Utyupin, for 20 years of existence free economic zones have proved to be an effective tool for socio-economic development of the regions, they occupy a worthy place among the mechanisms for attracting foreign investments. As a result of 2017, resident enterprises produced about 13% of the total industrial output in the country. The FEZ accounts for about 16% of the total republican exports. Residents attracted more than $ 500 million of direct foreign investments, their share in this indicator was about 15%.
A distinctive feature of enterprises in the FEZ is a higher level of efficiency, the deputy minister noted. For example, in terms of industrial production and exports, FEZ performance is higher than republican by 3 and 3.7 times, respectively. In recent years, there have been tendencies of increasing the number of residents and growth in the amount of their declared investments for the implementation of projects, which indicates the correctness of the chosen path to improve the conditions of the FEZ, Pavel Utyupin stated. A draft decree has been drafted that provides for changes to the boundaries of the territories of free economic zones, as well as increased opportunities to attract sources of financing for the development of the FEZ infrastructure. The document is in a high degree of readiness and can be adopted in the near future.
There are six free economic zones in Belarus (one in each regional center and Minsk). More than 400 enterprises operate as residents of FEZ.
UTYUPIN: NEW RESIDENTS OF THE SEZ INTEND TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS MORE THAN $ 440 MILLION
23 June 2018