The volume of attracted foreign investments in the FEZ "Vitebsk" in 2009 amounted to $ 53.6 million.

February 1, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. The volume of attracted foreign investment in the FEZ "Vitebsk" as of the end of 2009 amounted to $53.6 million, which is more than double the figure for the previous year. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the FEZ administration. The annual target for this indicator was overfulfilled by almost 2.5 times, including attracting foreign direct investment in the amount of $13.8 million, of which almost 45% is the reinvestment of profits by foreign investors in the development of existing production facilities. The volume of investment in fixed assets as of the end of 2009 amounted to more than Br54.6 billion, which is almost a third higher than the annual target. FEZ residents invested financial resources in the amount of almost Br50.1 billion in the construction and reconstruction of production facilities, of which about 60% was directed to the purchase of equipment for the implementation of investment projects. Almost Br4.5 billion was used for the development of the infrastructure of the FEZ "Vitebsk" territory, allocated from the republican budget in accordance with the state investment program for 2009. Thus, last year, distribution substations with 10 kV cable lines were commissioned in the FEZ territory, which will significantly improve the energy supply of enterprises and create a reserve for connecting potential residents. FEZ resident enterprises produced products worth Br579 billion (excluding enterprises of republican subordination - Br270 billion), the growth rate of production volumes was 92.8% (excluding enterprises of republican subordination - 100.6%). Revenue from the sale of goods (works, services) increased by 12.4% compared to 2008 to Br745 billion. The volume of foreign trade amounted to $234.9 million, the profitability of sold products was 10.5%, and for enterprises without departmental subordination - 21.7%. FEZ residents created 314 jobs. The average monthly salary in resident enterprises was over Br745 thousand, while in enterprises owned by foreign investors, this figure exceeded Br1.3 million. FEZ residents paid taxes to the budget and extrabudgetary funds in the amount of almost Br77.5 billion, or 103.2% of the 2008 level. The FEZ "Vitebsk" was established in August 1999. Currently, there are 34 residents operating in the FEZ, including 4 new enterprises that received resident status in 2009 with a declared investment volume of 11 million euros and $39.3 million. The industrial potential of the FEZ is based on enterprises operating in the fields of machine building, woodworking, food, chemical, fuel, and light industries. The average number of employees in enterprises in the FEZ is almost 8 thousand people. The territory of the free economic zone includes seven sectors with a total area of over 1.2 thousand hectares.