Export results of FEZ Grodnoinvest for 5 years: interest of European companies and development of the furniture cluster
In recent years, residents of FEZ Grodnoinvest have begun to consider more actively the countries of the European Union as an important export destination. This is confirmed by the results of the analysis of statistics of trade turnover and export of Grodno companies since 2013.
Success in trade between residents of FEZ Grodnoinvest and Polish companies is especially notable. With an increase of 31% in the total commodity turnover, a decrease in the share of Russia in favor of the EU countries, in particular Poland, is noted. During three years, the share of one of the fastest growing economies in Europe has grown from 13% to 18%.
The export statistics of FEZ residents over the past five years indicates a trend to strengthen cooperation with Western companies. Since 2013, export to Russia decreased by 17%, to the European Union and Poland - has doubled.
The main drivers of changes in the export structure were new residents, who created production in Grodno region with the European sales vector. At the same time, the cooperation of the current residents of FEZ Grodnoinvest and Western companies in contract manufacturing is developing. Foreign partners trust our enterprises and highly appreciate the level of professional training of Belarusian specialists.
The intensification of cooperation between Belarusian and European companies is observed in many industrial areas, however, it is impossible not to note the key role of wood processing and furniture production. If in 2013 the EU countries, including Poland, accounted for about 8% of products export of this industry, then by the end of 2017, this figure increased by 6 times to 48%. It should be noted that during this period the volume of export to Russia remained almost unchanged.
The described trends in the sales policy of FEZ Grodnoinvest residents to a high degree correspond to market transformations throughout Grodno region. A quarter of industrial production, a third of export and about 70% of attracted investments of the region accounts for FEZ Grodnoinvest.
69 companies with investments from 35 countries of the world and turnover of about 1 billion dollars successfully operate here. European and world leaders Kronospan, Atlas, OT Logistic, Mispol, Arvi, the Commonwealth and others are implementing their projects on the industrial sites in Grodno region.
This allows you to look with optimism at the prospects for the development of business relations with Western companies. In early October, the delegation of FEZ took part in the largest economic congress of Podlaskie Voivodship of Poland, and a visit to the Belarusian-Polish business forum in Warsaw is planned at the end of October.