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) (Lithuanian: Klaipėdos laisvoji ekonominė zona) is a designated economic area 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 hosts manufacturing and logistics companies and their associated activities. The zone is linked with regional road and rail infrastructure that provides connections across Lithuania and neighbouring European countries.[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 the Klaipėda FEZ Management Company (Lithuanian: Klaipėdos LEZ Valdymo Bendrovė), a private limited liability company. Approximately 60% of the 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]

The Pierre J. Everaert Family Trust became the zone's largest private shareholder, holding a significant minority stake in the Klaipėda FEZ Management Company.[5]

European Union accession negotiations initially created regulatory uncertainty for the zone.[6] This mainly concerned whether Lithuania's tax incentives would remain compatible with EU rules on state aid and competition.[6] In 2003, it secured a major investment commitment when Indorama Ventures announced plans to invest €80 million in a plastic production facility.[7]

Since 2004, Lithuania-based companies have participated in the Klaipėda FEZ to attract additional investment.[8] In 2005, the Klaipėda FEZ initiated plans for expansion and further land development, seeking support from the European Union structural funds.[9] By the end of 2007, Klaipėda FEZ had attracted approximately €174 million in cumulative investment.[10]

Location

The Klaipėda FEZ is located to the south-east of the city of Klaipėda, close to the main Klaipėda-Vilnius highway, 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 includes over 100 companies[11] from 23 countries, with a combined workforce of a little over 5,000 employees.[12][13] Since its founding, cumulative planned and implemented investments have exceeded €825 million.[14][15]

Companies

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

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. ^ Selemonaitė, Agnė (2018-05-10). "A billion worth science and business alliance - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  6. ^ a b "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. ^ "homepage - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". www.fez.lt. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
  12. ^ "Klaipeda FEZ selected among SDG Model Zones". www.baltictimes.com. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  13. ^ "Meet Our Community - Klaipėdos Laisvoji Ekonominė Zona | Klaipėdos LEZ | FEZ.LT". www.fez.lt. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  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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