A Polish investor will allocate 1 million euros to create a shoe parts production facility in the FEZ "Vitebsk"

December 15, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. Foreign enterprise "PolStep" intends to organize the production of components for the footwear industry in the FEZ "Vitebsk", the BELTA correspondent was informed by the department of investment and foreign economic relations of the Vitebsk FEZ administration. The enterprise, registered as a resident of the FEZ, was established with the participation of a Polish investor. The investment project worth over 1 million euros provides for the creation of production of soles and heels made of thermoplastic rubber and synthetic polymers of any complexity, from standard to exclusive, including according to individual drawings and sketches of customers, as well as heel tips made of polyurethane. The project is import-substituting in nature, with up to 80% of the products intended for sale to domestic footwear industry enterprises. The new resident plans to start production activities in the third quarter of 2011, and the project provides for the creation of over 80 jobs. The FEZ "Vitebsk" was established in August 1999. 37 residents are registered in the FEZ, of which over 60% are joint and foreign enterprises established with the participation of investors from 13 countries, including Germany, Poland, the USA, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Russia, Canada, Holland and Israel. The industrial potential of the FEZ is based on enterprises operating in the fields of mechanical engineering, woodworking, food, chemical, fuel and light industries. The territory of the free economic zone includes seven sectors with a total area of over 1.2 thousand hectares. In January-September, the volume of industrial production at resident enterprises amounted to Br487.7 billion, which in comparable prices is 17.4% more than in the same period last year. The export of goods from resident enterprises of the FEZ "Vitebsk" in January-September increased by almost 30% compared to the same period in 2009 and exceeded $97 million. The main volume of exports (over 90%) falls on the CIS countries, the share of Russia in the total volume of export supplies exceeds 80%. Based on the results of foreign trade activities of the FEZ "Vitebsk" for January-September, a positive balance of $9.5 million was formed (excluding oil and petroleum products, the positive balance was $11.3 million). -0-