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Klaipėda Free Economic Zone

Coordinates: 55°41′N 21°11′E / 55.683°N 21.183°E / 55.683; 21.183
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Klaipėda Free Economic Zone
Company typeUAB
IndustryTax free zone. Industries: plastics & chemicals, offshore & large metal structures, electric vehicles & components, food processing, value added logistics and others.
Founded2002, Lithuania
HeadquartersPramonės Str. 8, LT-94102, Klaipėda, Lithuania
Revenue€1,2bn (2019)
Number of employees
more than 5,900 employees work at FEZ
Websitewww.fez.lt
Klaipėda FEZ, stones marking the area
Fortum Klaipėda Combined Heat and Power Plant operating in the FEZ.

Klaipėda Free Economic Zone or Klaipėda FEZ (Lithuanian: Klaipėdos laisvoji ekonominė zona) is the first free economic zone in the Baltics. It was established in 1996, officially launched in 2002.

Klaipėda FEZ consists of 412 ha of land dedicated to manufacturing plants, logistics, and business park development. Klaipėda FEZ is located in Klaipėda (Lithuania), at the heart of Europe, and offers easy access to markets in the EU, Scandinavia, and former CIS countries (Ukraine, Belarus and Russia especially) via an extensive rail, road, AIRPORT and sea network. Klaipeda FEZ plays a key role in the regional and national economy, creating value amounting to 2,5-5% of Lithuania’s annual GDP. It has a strong track record for providing extra care and service to multinational clients such as Yazaki, Indorama Ventures, Albright and others.

History

Tax incentives
Tax
Corporation tax 0% (first 10 years)
7.5% (following 6 years)
Real estate tax 0%

The first steps for the establishment of the zone were undertaken in 1996. In 1997, a management company was selected after reviewing five proposals.[1] The Klaipėda FEZ is managed by Klaipėda FEZ Management Company (Lithuanian: Klaipėdos LEZ Valdymo Bendrovė), a private limited liability company. The Baltic Fund, an investment fund, financed by the Rockefeller and Company, Lazard, and investors from Saudi Arabia,[2] owned about 60% of the management company. The remaining shares are owned by city enterprises, municipalities and the government of the Lithuanian Republic.[3] Since 2001 the Rockefeller Foundation sold its shares to Pierre J. Everaert Family Trust based in Demarest New Jersey, thereby becoming the largest private shareholder of the KFEZ.

[Pennenox, Philadelphia USA - story eliminated as irrelevant to the development of the |KFEZ] Another set of obstacles was raised during Lithuania's negotiations for accession to the European Union.[4] Klaipėda FEZ began its activities in December 2001.[5] In 2003, Thailand-based Indorama announced an investment of 80M euros into a plastic production factory.[6] To further attract investors to FEZ, Lithuanian-based companies were allowed to participate since 2004.[7] A year later, the FEZ began plans for expansion and further development of its land, requesting assistance from structural funds of the European Union.[8] By the end of 2007, FEZ attracted some 600M litas (174M euros) of investments.[9] By the end of 2017, the total accumulated foreign direct investment in Klaipėda FEZ accounted for 634M euros.

Currently, more than 5400 employees work at FEZ investor and supporting companies, which is 7,3% of Klaipeda's talent pool.

Location

Klaipėda FEZ is located in the south-eastern part of the city of Klaipėda, near the main transport Klaipėda-Vilnius highway. The distance to the Port of Klaipėda is 8 km, while to Klaipeda-Palanga International Airport it is 35 km, to Kaunas Airport it is 218 km, and to Vilnius Airport it is 304 km.

Operations within FEZ

Klaipėda FEZ community currently connects over 5900 employees working in more than 100 industrial businesses focused in the Plastics & PET, food processing, offshore & large metal structures, electric vehicles & components, value added logistics and other industries.

Klaipėda FEZ has 45 clients which are foreign and Lithuanian companies. In total, 18 countries are represented. Total investments are approx. 726M Euros.

In total, the companies based in Klaipėda FEZ account for 2.7% of national exports in 2017 and nearly 60% of Klaipėda’s foreign direct investment is accumulated at the Klaipėda FEZ.

Klaipėda FEZ is a recognised economic project of national significance.[10]

Companies

Major companies operating within Klaipėda FEZ:

  • Yazaki Wiring Technologies Lietuva
  • Orion Global PET
  • Neo Group
  • Glassbel Baltic
  • Espersen
  • Vesvela
  • Fortum Klaipėda
  • Mestilla
  • Retal Baltic
  • ANI Plast
  • Albright Lietuva
  • Klaipėda Business Park
  • HeidelbergCement Group
  • Vingės Logistika
  • BMG Logistika
  • AD REM LEZ
  • AD REM PORT
  • Pack Klaipėda
  • Lavango Group
  • Klaipėdos Skuba
  • Hugaas Construction
  • Be-Ge Baltic
  • Dancer Bus
  • Metalo konstrukcijų gamykla
  • Lindström
  • Focus Fabrication Group
  • Capella Baltica
  • Baltijos Eucutekas
  • Philip Morris International (operating outside the official Klaipėda FEZ territory)

Achievements

  • In 2017 Klaipeda FEZ was recognised (to be announced) within the categories of “Quick Launch award” (Editor’s choice), Expansion, Energy Efficiency, Specialism (for Plastics industry) and Contribution to the National economy. Investors wishing to establish operations in Lithuania’s Klaipeda FEZ can use the zone’s Fast Factory Launch scheme. The scheme offers companies ready for use sites that come complete with all the required construction permits, as well as the ability to make minor adjustments to customise the site to fit the investor’s needs. Outside of Klaipeda, construction permits in Lithuania can take up to six months. Additionally, the Flexstart programme aims to allow investors to commence operations in less than one month, with customisable pre-built manufacturing facilities. New offices are currently under construction that will be offered to SMEs as part of the programme.[11]

General Facts & Information

  • Address – Pramonės Str. 8, LT-94102, Klaipėda, Lithuania.
  • Official website: www.fez.lt
  • Klaipeda FEZ is managed and administered by the Klaipeda FEZ Management Company, CEO Eimantas Kiudulas.
  • Start of operations: 2002
  • Total area: 412 ha
  • Number of operating companies: 100+, 45 - Klaipėda FEZ clients.
  • No. of countries represented by companies: 18 (2019)
  • Jobs created: 5900+
  • Total investments: 726M Eur.
  • State investment: 6,4M Eur.
  • Revenue generated by investors in 2019: about 1,2bn Eur.
  • Export in 2019: 542M Eur.

References

  1. ^ Valeckas, Edgaras (1997-03-21). "Laisvoji ekonominė zona jau popieriuje" (in Lithuanian) (26). Verslo žinios: 5. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ Shadigian, Vanda (May 2000). "Corporate member profile: The Baltic Fund Today and Tomorrow". American Investor in Latvia. 11.
  3. ^ BNS (1997-04-23). ""Siemens" pirmoji". Verslo žinios (in Lithuanian) (39): 17.
  4. ^ Valeckas, Edgaras (2000-04-11). "Miglotos LEZ perspektyvos". Verslo žinios (in Lithuanian) (71): 7.
  5. ^ "Klaipėdos LEZ jau statomos gamyklos". Verslo žinios (in Lithuanian) (113): 3. 2002-06-12.
  6. ^ "Klaipėdos LEZ atkunta: atkeliauja ir Lietuvos, ir užsienio kapitalas" (in Lithuanian). Verslo žinios. 2003-12-04.
  7. ^ BNS (2004-02-13). "Nuo pelno mokesčio - į LEZ" (in Lithuanian) (30). Verslo žinios: 7. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Vasiliauskaitė, Gabrielė (2005-04-12). "Klaipėdos LEZ bus plečiama pramoniniu parku" (in Lithuanian) (69). Verslo žinios: 6. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ Dvarionaitė, Nijolė (2007-11-26). "Klaipėdos LEZ'ą pasaulis pastebėjo". Verslo žinios (in Lithuanian) (224): 4.
  10. ^ "About Klaipeda FEZ". fez.lt. 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
  11. ^ "fDi Global Free Zones of the Year 2017 – the winners". 2017-10-09.

55°41′N 21°11′E / 55.683°N 21.183°E / 55.683; 21.183

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