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,
  • Defense
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 (also known as Klaipėda FEZ or KFEZ) (Lithuanian: Klaipėdos laisvoji ekonominė zona) is a designated economic area located in Klaipėda, Lithuania. Established in 1996 and officially launched in 2002, the zone spans approximately 4.12 km2 (1.6 miles), accommodating a range of manufacturing and logistics companies and their associated activities. It has multiple road and rail connections to intercontinental Europe.[1]

History

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

The Klaipėda Free Economic Zone was established in 1996,[2] and 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 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 for a plastic production factory located in the area. [7]

Since 2004, Lithuania-based companies have participated in the Klaipėda FEZ in order 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 had attracted around 600 million litas (€174 million) of investments. [10] Over €783 million in investments have been made since 2002.

As of 2024, more than 5,000 employees are working in companies located within the zone, along with over 45 foreign investors. [11][12]

Location

Klaipėda FEZ is located south-east of Klaipėda, close to the main Klaipėda-Vilnius highway in Lithuania. 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 KFEZ

The Klaipėda FEZ community currently employs more than 5,000 workers in over 100 companies[13] across domains such as plastics & PET, food processing, offshore and large metal structures, electric vehicles, components, and value-added logistics.

It has over 45 clients, both foreign and Lithuanian companies.[14] In total, 23 countries are represented. Planned and implemented investments since its founding have amounted to €825 million.[15]

Companies

Companies operating within Klaipėda FEZ include:[16]

  • 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

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

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. ^ "Klaipeda FEZ selected among SDG Model Zones". www.baltictimes.com. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  12. ^ "Meet Our Community - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". www.fez.lt. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  13. ^ "homepage - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". www.fez.lt. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
  14. ^ "homepage - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". www.fez.lt. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "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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