The "Vitebsk" Free Economic Zone (FEZ) is a business area in the Republic of Belarus, within the borders of which special preferential regimes of taxation and customs regulations are in effect.
The "Vitebsk" FEZ was established on August 4, 1999 for a period of 30 years. The zone provides advantages to producers and exporters alike.
During the years of the FEZ’s existence, 31 enterprises with capital from Germany, Poland, the U.S., Czech Republic, Bulgaria, the UK, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, as well as Belarus were registered there. At the present moment, 29 investment projects are successfully are being conducted within the "Vitebsk" FEZ’s territory. These ventures include innovative technology brickwork production, ultrasonic gas- and liquid meters production, pectin production, as well as a Canada House project.
The "Vitebsk" Free Economic Zone is located in Vitebsk city, the biggest industrial center in the north-eastern Belarus. Vitebsk is a significant concentration point of railway systems in the Northern part of the country. The city’s airport provides domestic air service, as well as flights to Russia.
The total length of shared borders of the Vitebsk region and several neighboring countries is 993.8 km. The border with the Russian Federation is 575.8 km. The border between the Vitebsk region and Lithuania 192.2 km. The border with Latvia 165.8 km. Vitebsk is about 50 km away from the closest border with Russia.
Well-developed transportation networks (Eastern regions of Poland - Central Belarus - Baltic States, north-west and central regions of Russia) make the territory of the "Vitebsk" FEZ quite attractive for establishing production operations with further intent of importing the items to consumer markets of Russia, the Baltic States, Scandinavia, and Central Europe. The network of modern roadways and railroads provides easy and fast connection between the biggest industrial centers of the Baltic States and Eastern Europe.
The distances from Vitebsk to Minsk is 280 km,, to Moscow - 550 km, to St. Petersburg - 600 km, to Warsaw - 800 km, to Kiev - 550 km, to Vilnius - 360 km, to Riga - 500 km, to Tallinn - 687 km.
The Vitebsk region also has one of the main trans-European routes "Crete Corridor No. 9 (Helsinki - Vitebsk - Kiev - Chisinau - Plovdiv). Due to its geoeconomic location the "Vitebsk" FEZ has a good potential to become a "jumping-off place" for efficient access to the consumer markets of Russia, the Baltic States, and Scandinavia.
The main spheres of economic activity on the "Vitebsk" FEZ include wood processing, production of fiber-optic cables, oil and petroleum production, production of electronics, food production, sewing operations, production of veterinary medicines and chemicals for the agrarian sector, as well as banking businesses. Areas of production are not limited to the "Vitebsk" FEZ territory, as all the conditions conducive to the successful establishment of various enterprises exist in Belarus.
The “Vitebsk” FEZ would like to have a strong relationship with American companies. Perspective American partners include financial organization, as well as industrial companies that are interested in entering CIS markets and reducing the cost of production.
Contact Information.
The Administration of the FEZ "Vitebsk":
P. Brovky str. 50, 210605 Vitebsk
The Republic of Belarus
Web: www.fez-vitebsk.com
E-mail: fez@vitebsk.by
Tel / Fax: +375 /212/ 26 08 02