VITEBSK, 8 November (BelTA) – Resident companies of the free economic zone Vitebsk (FEZ Vitebsk) exported nearly $160 million worth of commodities in January-September 2011, up 25% from the same time last year, BelTA learnt from the investment and economic department of the FEZ administration. The CIS accounted for nearly 90% of the export, with Russia’s share about 82%. The free economic zone imported $153.2 million worth of raw material and component parts (up 4.3% over the same period last year). Over the first nine months of 2011 the FEZ Vitebsk posted trade surplus of $6.7 million. On the whole, foreign trade in January-September was 13.8% higher than over the same period a year ago. The FEZ resident companies attracted $32.4 million foreign investment, including $19.3 billion of loans and $13.1 million FDI. In January-September the FEZ residents utilized Br91 billion investment, with the share of fixed-capital investment at Br70.1 billion. Together with appropriations of the central state budget for the sake of developing the FEZ Vitebsk infrastructure the total volume of fixed-capital investments in the free economic zone amounted to Br73.8 billion. The FEZ resident companies produced goods worth over Br873 billion, up 75%. The share of import substitutes made up nearly 50% of the total output. 14 FEZ Vitebsk residents make up the list of the companies in the import-substitution program. The revenue from the sales of products (works, services) exceeded Br1.1 trillion, with net profit reaching Br148.2 billion. Over the nine months there were created 440 jobs. As of 1 October, the total number of jobs exceeded 11,200. The free economic zone Vitebsk was founded in August 1999. At present 45 investment projects are being implemented in the zone. More than 60% of FEZ Vitebsk resident companies are joint ventures and foreign-owned companies that have been set up with assistance of investors from 13 countries, including Germany, Poland, the USA, the Czech Republic, the UK, Russia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Israel. Enterprises specializing in mechanical engineering, woodworking, food industry, chemical, fuel, and light industries constitute the foundation of the industrial potential of the free economic zone Vitebsk. The zone comprises 12 sectors with the total area of over 2,100 hectares. The sectors are located within city limits of Vitebsk, Postavy, Orsha, Baran, and the town of Bolbasovo (Orsha District) and in Vitebsk District.

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