FEZ Grodnoinvest in 2021: exports increased by 1.5 times, investments from abroad exceeded $160 million
In 2021, residents of FEZ Grodnoinvest significantly increased industrial production, export deliveries to near and far abroad countries, and attracted a record amount of foreign direct investment on a net basis. Read more about the results of the year in the material.
In 2021, the foreign trade turnover of FEZ Grodnoinvest residents increased by more than 40% and amounted to $2.1 billion. The growth driver was the export of Belarusian products to 63 countries of the world. Its volume amounted to $1.4 billion with a growth rate of 146% compared to 2020. The positive balance of foreign trade turnover amounted to $721 million, which is $283 million more than last year.
The key markets for residents of FEZ Grodnoinvest are Russia, Poland and Ukraine. These countries account for 84% of exports. In total, FEZ residents exported products to 63 countries. Last year, the deliveries of Belarusian products to Denmark increased significantly (growth by 10.8 times compared to 2020), Sweden (8.1 times), Austria (4.7 times), Italy (4.5 times) , Great Britain (3.1 times), the Netherlands (2.5 times), Germany (2.3 times), the USA (1.7 times). Exports to the countries of the European Union increased by 74%. Today, they account for 24% of the total export of FEZ Grodnoinvest residents.
Most of the export products (over 70%) build wood and paper products, furniture, food and agricultural products. In 2021, manufacturers of wood and paper products (191%), optical equipment (174%), chemical products (157%), food products (135%) and metal products (134%) increased their exports the most in 2021.
At the end of 2021, residents of FEZ Grodnoinvest attracted $81.5 million of foreign direct investment on a net basis. For five years, this figure has increased by more than 2.2 times. The share of FEZ Grodnoinvest in the regional indicator was 64%. It should be highlighted that last year four companies with investments from Portugal and Belarus became new residents of FEZ.
The volume of foreign investments attracted by residents of FEZ Grodnoinvest in 2021 amounted to $160 million. Since the establishment of FEZ Grodnoinvest, more than $956 million of foreign investments have already been accumulated, which is the best indicator among the FEZs of the republic.
Key investors in 2021 were Austria ($61 million) and Cyprus ($46 million). The top 5 also includes International Organizations ($25 million), Poland ($12 million) and the Netherlands ($5 million). The general geography includes 15 countries, including Germany, Great Britain, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Slovakia, etc.
Investments in fixed assets amounted to $140 million. Most investments were made in production facilities located in FEZ industrial parks in Smorgon ($51 million), Svisloch ($40 million) and Grodno ($24.7 million).
