Klaipėda Free Economic Zone

Klaipėda Free Economic Zone
Company typeUAB
Industry
  • RE development
  • Main industries:
  • Plastics & Chemicals,
  • Engineering industry & Metal structures,
  • Automotive components,
  • Value Added Logistics,
  • Food processing,
  • Defence
Founded2002, Lithuania
HeadquartersPramonės Str. 31, LT-94103, Klaipėda, Lithuania
Key people
Eimantas Kiudulas (CEO)
Revenue€1.4 billion (2024) or $1.627 billion (2024)
Number of employees
>5,000
Websitefez.lt

The Klaipėda Free Economic Zone (Shortened to Klaipėda FEZ or Klaipėda FEZ) (Lithuanian: Klaipėdos laisvoji ekonominė zona) is a designated economic area located in Klaipėda, Lithuania. It was established in 1996 and officially launched in 2002. The zone spans approximately 4.12 km2 (1.59 square miles) and accommodates a range of manufacturing and logistics companies and their associated activities. The zone has direct multimodal transport links, including road and rail connections to major European markets.[1]

History

Tax incentives
Tax
Corporation tax 0% (first 10 years)
8% (following 6 years)
Real estate tax 0%

The Klaipėda FEZ was established in 2002[2] and is managed by Klaipėda FEZ Management Company (Lithuanian: Klaipėdos LEZ Valdymo Bendrovė), a private limited liability company. Approximately 60% of Klaipėda FEZ Management Company is owned by the Baltic Fund, an investment fund financed by foreign investors,[3] while the remaining shares are held by city enterprises, municipalities, and the Government of Lithuania.[4]

In 2001, the Rockefeller Foundation exited its investment by selling its shares to the Pierre J. Everaert Family Trust, which became the zone's largest private shareholder, holding a significant minority stake in Klaipėda FEZ Management Company.

EU accession negotiations initially created regulatory uncertainty for the zone[5]. This primarily concerned whether Lithuania's tax incentives would remain compatible with European Union rules on state aid and competition.. However, Klaipėda FEZ commenced operations in 2002,[5] In 2003, it secured a major investment commitment when Indorama announced plans to invest €80 million in a plastic production facility.[6]

Since 2004, Lithuania-based companies have participated in the Klaipėda FEZ to attract additional investment. [7] In 2005, the Klaipėda FEZ initiated plans for expansion, and further land development, seeking support from European Union structural funds.[8] By the end of 2007, Klaipėda FEZ had attracted approximately €174 million (600 million litas) in cumulative investment.[9] As of the most recent reporting, total planned and implemented investments since 2002 have exceeded €825 million, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of investment capital inflows.

As of 2024, more than 5,000 employees are working in companies located within the zone, along with over 45 foreign investors. [10][11]

Location

Stones marking the area where the Klaipėda FEZ begins

The Klaipėda FEZ is located to the south-east of the city of Klaipėda, close to the main Klaipėda-Vilnius highway. It is located approximately 8 km from the Port of Klaipėda, 35 km from Klaipėda-Palanga International Airport, 218 km from Kaunas Airport, and 304 km from Vilnius Airport.

Operations within the Klaipėda FEZ

As of 2024, the zone encompasses over 100 companies[12] representing 23 countries, with a combined workforce exceeding 5,000 employees. Since its founding, cumulative planned and implemented investments have exceeded €825 million.[13][14]

Companies

The following companies operate within or are closely associated with Klaipėda FEZ operations (as of 2024):[15]

  • Orion Global PET
  • Neo Group
  • Retal Baltic
  • Glassbel Baltic
  • Atlas Premium Lietuva
  • Mestilla
  • Be-Ge Baltic
  • Pack Klaipėda
  • Skuba Lietuva
  • Klaipėda Business Park
  • Albright Lietuva
  • Green Klaipėda
  • ANI Plast
  • Heidelberg Materials
  • Vingės logistika
  • AD REM LEZ
  • Lavango Engineering LT
  • Lindström
  • Rehau Production LT
  • Baltic Comri Technologies
  • Elme Metall Klaipėda
  • Werner Wirth Baltic
  • Etman
  • Hawe Hydraulic

References

  1. ^ "homepage - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". www.fez.lt. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
  2. ^ "Klaipeda free economic zone: shining bright on the investment map". www.baltictimes.com. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  3. ^ Shadigian, Vanda (May 2000). "Corporate member profile: The Baltic Fund Today and Tomorrow". American Investor in Latvia. 11. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
  4. ^ BNS (1997-04-23). ""Siemens" pirmoji". Verslo žinios (in Lithuanian). No. 39. p. 17.
  5. ^ a b "Klaipėdos LEZ jau statomos gamyklos". Verslo žinios (in Lithuanian). No. 113. 2002-06-12. p. 3.
  6. ^ "Klaipėdos LEZ atkunta: atkeliauja ir Lietuvos, ir užsienio kapitalas" (in Lithuanian). Verslo žinios. 2003-12-04.
  7. ^ BNS (2004-02-13). "Nuo pelno mokesčio - į LEZ" (in Lithuanian). No. 30. Verslo žinios. p. 7.
  8. ^ Vasiliauskaitė, Gabrielė (2005-04-12). "Klaipėdos LEZ bus plečiama pramoniniu parku" (in Lithuanian). No. 69. Verslo žinios. p. 6.
  9. ^ Dvarionaitė, Nijolė (2007-11-26). "Klaipėdos LEZ'ą pasaulis pastebėjo". Verslo žinios (in Lithuanian). No. 224. p. 4.
  10. ^ "Klaipeda FEZ selected among SDG Model Zones". www.baltictimes.com. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  11. ^ "Meet Our Community - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". www.fez.lt. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  12. ^ "homepage - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". www.fez.lt. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
  13. ^ "homepage - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". www.fez.lt. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
  14. ^ Baubinas, Kostas (2025-05-13). "Klaipėda FEZ companies planted 33 community trees and honored a visionary's memory - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  15. ^ "Explore the free zone - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". www.fez.lt. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2025-05-06.

55°41′N 21°11′E / 55.683°N 21.183°E / 55.683; 21.183

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