GOMEL, 29 February (BelTA) – Companies residing in the free economic zone (FEZ) Gomel-Raton exported about $1.4 billion worth of merchandise in 2023, BelTA learned from Head of the FEZ Gomel-Raton Administration Antonina Yezhova during a press conference held to sum up last year’s performance.
According to Antonina Yezhova, in 2023 FEZ Gomel-Raton companies made over Br6.4 billion worth of goods or nearly 17% of Gomel Oblast’s industrial output.
“About $1.4 billion worth of goods was exported. It totaled nearly 40% of Gomel Oblast’s export. In terms of merchandise export we are a leading free economic zone in Belarus. Only FEZ Minsk exported more,” Antonina Yezhova stated.
“In 2024 we have to increase the free economic zone’s overall merchandise export by 5% in comparison with 2023,” she set the goal.
The head of the FEZ Gomel-Raton Administration added that profits from selling products had been secured in the free economic zone as a whole as a result of business operations in 2023. As much as Br516.8 million in taxes, duties, and levies was paid to the state budget and extrabudgetary funds, 42.6% up from 2022.
At present companies residing in FEZ Gomel-Raton are implementing 63 investment projects. FEZ Gomel-Raton is home to 25 enterprises with a share of foreign capital from 13 countries. Nearly 30,000 people work at FEZ Gomel-Raton enterprises. In 2023 the enterprises hired 545 people to fill newly created jobs.
Steady growth of salaries has been secured, Antonina Yezhova emphasized. The nominal accrued monthly salary rose by 18% in 2023. In 2024 it is necessary to continue raising salaries across the free economic zone. Plans are in place to secure an 11.8% increase as against 2023, she stressed.
This year the program of the summarizing conference at FEZ Gomel-Raton has been expanded. In addition to the plenary session, which is held in the workshop format, proposals have been made to discuss the resolution of such topical matters as whether FEZ Gomel-Raton’s performance figures live up to the new reality, what can attract investors in the age of global transformations, and whether it is necessary to improve FEZ Gomel-Raton’s preferences. Apart from that, a roundtable session will be held to discuss this year’s financing options from banks.
