Free economic zones (FEZ) are designed to stimulate cutting-edge manufacturing, create jobs and boost export.
Belarusian free economic zones have a total of 409 resident companies* employing over 121,000 people (3.5% of the country's average number of workers).
Six FEZ operate in Belarus:
FEZ Brest (1996) – 75 resident companies; 21,260 employees**.
FEZ Gomel-Raton (1998) – 75 resident companies; 26,717 employees.
FEZ Minsk (1998) – 117 resident companies; 22,404 employees.
FEZ Vitebsk (1999) – 38 resident companies; 10,662 employees.
FEZ Mogilev (2002) – 36 resident companies; 23,316 employees.
FEZ Grodnoinvest (2002) – 68 resident companies; 17,019 employees.
Major areas of business of FEZ resident companies;
Processing industry
Trade
Real estate operations
Transportation
Science and technology
Share of FEZ resident companies in Belarus' major macroeconomic indicators in January-March 2018:
12.3% of industrial output
8% of capital investment
14.9% of commodity export
*As of 1 April 2018
** Average number of workers
Source: National Statistics Committee of Belarus.