VITEBSK, March 26 (BelTA) – The Administration of the Vitebsk Free Economic Zone intends to hold a business forum in the Wielkopolska region (Poznan, Poland) in summer 2009, BelTA learnt from Oleg Kondratovich, head of the investments, foreign and economic ties department of the Administration of the Vitebsk Free Economic Zone. The joint Belarusian-Polish forum will be held in line with the cooperation agreement signed by the Vitebsk Free Economic Zone and the Polish company DAZIN sp. z.o.o. during forum “Investment Initiatives of Vitebsk Oblast”. The sides have agreed to help Belarusian and Polish companies implement joint investment projects in Belarus and Poland, conduct joint business sessions and consultations for businessmen of both the countries. The Administration of the Vitebsk Free Economic Zone and a Polish company have launched the project to produce finishing materials and interior goods. The signed agreement will help both the sides intensify the business dialogue and use the possibilities and sci-tech potential of the Belarusian and Polish businesses to carry out priority projects, Oleg Kondratovich noted. The Administration of the Vitebsk Free Economic Zone considers the cooperation with the Polish business as a priority avenue of the investment cooperation. During the Vitebsk Investment Forum, the FEZ Administration and representatives of the Lodz region of Poland, the North Branch of the Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Pomorze Special Economic Zone discussed the organization of production facilities to produce goods for eastern and western markets. During the talks, the sides discussed how to assist the Polish companies in search for partners to implement projects in the Vitebsk Free Economic Zone. It concerns the creation of a transport and logistics centre, production of sanitary ware and medical devices. The sides have identified the company which will help Polish businessmen and resident companies of the Pomorze Special Economic Zone enter the eastern markets. Within the framework of the Vitebsk Investment Forum, the leadership of the Vitebsk Free Economic Zone had talks with diplomatic missions of Poland, Slovakia, India, China and Ukraine. The Vitebsk Free Economic Zone was founded on August 4, 1999. Today there are 35 resident companies in the FEZ with investors from 13 countries including Germany, the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Czech Republic, Poland and Russia. The resident companies are engaged in the fuel, chemical, light industries, engineering, food production and research. The FEZ includes seven sectors with the total area of more than 1,200 hectares.

БЕЛТА