Klaipėda Free Economic Zone

Klaipėda Free Economic Zone
Company typeUAB
Industry
  • Electric vehicles
  • Food processing
  • Offshore and large metal structures
  • Plastics and chemicals
  • Value Added Logistics
Founded2002, Lithuania
HeadquartersPramonės Str. 8, LT-94102, Klaipėda, Lithuania
Key people
Eimantas Kiudulas (CEO)
Revenue€1,34bn (2023)
Number of employees
>5,000
Websitewww.fez.lt
Klaipėda FEZ, stones marking the area

The Klaipėda Free Economic Zone (also known as Klaipėda FEZ or KFEZ) (Lithuanian: Klaipėdos laisvoji ekonominė zona) is a designated economic area located in Klaipėda, Lithuania near the Baltic Sea. Established in 1996, and officially launched in 2002, the zone covers 4.12 sq km and hosts a range of manufacturing, logistics, and other business activities. It has multiple road and rail connections to continental Europe.[1]

History

Tax incentives
Tax
Corporation tax 0% (first 10 years)
7.5% (following 6 years)
Real estate tax 0%

The Klaipėda Free Economic Zone was established in 1996.[2] The Klaipėda FEZ is managed by Klaipėda FEZ Management Company (Lithuanian: Klaipėdos LEZ Valdymo Bendrovė), a private limited liability company. Approximately 60% of the management company is owned by the Baltic Fund, an investment fund which is financed by foreign investors.[3] The remaining shares are owned by city enterprises, municipalities and the Government of Lithuania.[4] In 2001, the Rockefeller Foundation sold its shares to Pierre J. Everaert Family Trust, based in Demarest, New Jersey, which subsequently became the largest private shareholder of the KFEZ.

Challenges emerged during Lithuania's negotiations for accession to the European Union.[5] Klaipėda FEZ began its activities in December 2001.[6] In 2003, Indorama announced an investment of €80 million into a plastic production factory.[7] Since 2004, Lithuanian-based companies participate in the Klaipėda FEZ to attract additional investment.[8] In 2005 the KFEZ initiated plans for expansion and further land development, seeking support from European Union structural funds.[9] By the end of 2007, KFEZ attracted around 600 million litas (€174 million) of investments.[10] Over €783 million in investments has been attracted since 2002.

Currently, more than 5,000 employees work in the KFEZ with investments by 100+ companies.[11]

Location

Klaipėda FEZ is located in the southeastern part of Klaipėda, Lithuania, in close proximity 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 FEZ

The Klaipėda FEZ community currently employs more than 5,000 workers in over 100 companies[12] such as plastics & PET, food processing, offshore & large metal structures, electric vehicles & components, value-added logistics etc.

It has 45 clients, both foreign and Lithuanian companies.[13] In total, 19 countries are represented. Total investments are approximately €825 million.

Companies

Companies operating within Klaipėda FEZ include:[14]

  • Orion Global PET
  • Neo Group
  • Retal Baltic
  • Glassbel Baltic
  • Espersen
  • Mestilla
  • Be-Ge Baltic
  • Pack Klaipėda
  • Skuba Lietuva
  • Klaipėda Business Park
  • Albright Lietuva
  • Gren Klaipėda
  • Dancer Bus
  • ANI Plast
  • HeidelbergCement Group
  • Vingės logistika
  • AD REM LEZ
  • Lavango Engineering LT
  • Lindström
  • Rehau Production LT
  • Baltic Comri Technologies
  • Elme Metall Klaipėda
  • Werner Wirth Baltic
  • Etman

Philip Morris International operates close to, but outside, the official Klaipėda FEZ territory.

Achievements

  • Main Award for Digitization and Red Tape Reduction, Honourable Mention for Industry 4.0 and Positive Impact at Economic Zone Sustainable Recovery Strategies Awards 2021.[15]
  • Honourable Mention for EU Compliance, 5G connectivity at Global Free Economic Zone of the Year Awards 2021.[16]
  • Bespoke Award for Sustainability at Global Free Economic Zone of the Year Awards 2020.[17]
  • Honourable Mention for Investor Expansions, Local transport, Workforce Amenities, Flex Start at Global Free Economic Zone of the Year Awards 2019.[18]
  • Bespoke Award for Investor Expansions, Investor Incentives, Economic Impact and Flexible Space at Global Free Economic Zone of the Year Awards 2018.[19]
  • In 2017, Klaipėda FEZ was recognised within the categories of “Quick Launch award” (Editor’s choice), Expansion, Energy Efficiency, Specialism (for Plastics industry), and Contribution to the National economy. Investors seeking to establish operations in Lithuania’s Klaipėda FEZ can use the zone’s Fast Factory Launch scheme. The scheme provides companies with pre-approved, ready-to-use sites that include the necessary construction permits. In contrast, obtaining construction permits elsewhere in Lithuania can take up to six months. Additionally, the Flexstart programme is designed to enable investors to commence operations in less than one month by providing pre-built manufacturing facilities. New offices are currently under construction that will be offered to SMEs as part of the programme.[20]

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. ^ Valeckas, Edgaras (2000-04-11). "Miglotos LEZ perspektyvos". Verslo žinios (in Lithuanian). No. 71. p. 7.
  6. ^ "Klaipėdos LEZ jau statomos gamyklos". Verslo žinios (in Lithuanian). No. 113. 2002-06-12. p. 3.
  7. ^ "Klaipėdos LEZ atkunta: atkeliauja ir Lietuvos, ir užsienio kapitalas" (in Lithuanian). Verslo žinios. 2003-12-04.
  8. ^ BNS (2004-02-13). "Nuo pelno mokesčio - į LEZ" (in Lithuanian). No. 30. Verslo žinios. p. 7.
  9. ^ Vasiliauskaitė, Gabrielė (2005-04-12). "Klaipėdos LEZ bus plečiama pramoniniu parku" (in Lithuanian). No. 69. Verslo žinios. p. 6.
  10. ^ Dvarionaitė, Nijolė (2007-11-26). "Klaipėdos LEZ'ą pasaulis pastebėjo". Verslo žinios (in Lithuanian). No. 224. p. 4.
  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. ^ "Explore the free zone - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". www.fez.lt. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  15. ^ Davies, Naomi (2021-10-04). "Economic Zone Sustainable Recovery Strategies Awards 2021 – The results". Investment Monitor. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  16. ^ Intelligence, fDi (2021-10-14). "Global Free Zones of the Year 2021 – Honourable mentions". www.fdiintelligence.com. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  17. ^ Intelligence, fDi (2020-10-15). "fDi's Global Free Zones of the Year 2020 – bespoke awards". www.fdiintelligence.com. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  18. ^ Intelligence, fDi (2020-07-08). "fDi's Global Free Zones of the Year 2019 – the winners". www.fdiintelligence.com. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  19. ^ Intelligence, fDi (2020-07-08). "fDi's Global Free Zones of the Year 2018 – the winners". www.fdiintelligence.com. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  20. ^ "fDi Global Free Zones of the Year 2017 – the winners". 2017-10-09.

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

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