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Thursday, 28.03.2024, 18:57
Klaipėda FEZ recognized with fDi Intelligence‘s first ever Quick Launch Award
Press photo. |
This year,
Klaipėda FEZ became the first ever and the only
free economic zone to receive the Quick Launch Award from fDi Intelligence.
Eimantas Kiudulas, CEO of Klaipėda FEZ, says this was a recognition of a
long-term strategy and concrete steps to ensure fast starts for future
investors and quick scaling opportunities for the current ones.
‘For instance,
our Fast Factory Launch scheme offers companies
sites complete with necessary construction permits, and the ability to make
minor edits to customise the site to an investor’s needs. Additionally,
Klaipėda FEZ offers a haul of ready-to-use offices, warehouses and production
facilities, and a range of on-site construction, infrastructure and HR services
for one‘s quick launch or expansion,‘ Mr. Kiudulas says.
Lithuania‘s
largest and oldest free economic zone has also been recognized by fDi
Intelligence for Contribution to National Economy. Klaipėda FEZ companies
generate about 2,5% of Lithuania's GDP and account for about 3% of exports. The
latter figure beats all other free zones in Lithuania to enjoy the largest
share of Lithuania’s FDI inflow. Exports from Klaipėda FEZ totalled 635M EUR in
2016 at 887M EUR of total investors' turnover. 27 investors currently operate
at Klaipėda's FEZ.
An
Specialism Award in the Plastics industry has also been secured exclusively by
Klaipėda FEZ this year. Mr Kiudulas suggests that the current portfolio in the
plastics industry puts Klaipėda FEZ on the European plastics map. The FEZ has
leading European PET makers Indorama and NEO Group on board, also a leading PET
preform maker Retal operates in the zone, let alone the plastic plumbing makers
Ani Plast and a strong R&D partnership with Klaipėda university.
‘However, we
also see Klaipėda in the spotlight of a promising
bioplastics industry in the near future together with Klaipėda‘s municipality,‘
Mr Kiudulas says.
Finally,
Klaipėda FEZ won two more awards for its energy efficiency projects and for
expansions of its investors. The former award has been founded on a smart
lighting system and, most importantly, a biofuel plant installed by one of
investors for its own needs, but sharing residue heat with other FEZ companies
and the city. The Expansions award has been given with regard to a 50%
increase of manufacturing capacities by NEO Group, Klaipėda‘s FEZ largest investor, and similar plans by Advantec, an oil&gas
technology company recently acquired by General Electric.
The Global
Free Zones of the Year rankings and awards are compiled annually by Financial
Times’ fDi Intelligence arm – a service minoring the foreign direct investment
market.