Investments of over 22 million dollars attracted in free economic zones in first half

12:05 | 12.08.2017 Category: Economic

Chisinau, 12 August /MOLDPRES/- Investments of over 22 million dollars were attracted in the first half of 2017 in the seven free economic zones and industrial parks in Moldova. Therefore, the investments amounted to 305.3 million dollars.

According to the communication and public relations service of the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure (MEI), the investments increased by 26.5 per cent against 1 July 2016. The largest share of investments, 36.4 per cent of total, belongs to the economic zone (ZEL) “Balti”, followed by a 23-per cent- share of ZEL “Ungheni-Business” and 22.1 per cent in “Expo-Business-Chisinau” zone.

The industry in the free economic zones is growing well above the level recorded for the total sector in the country. The sales figure of industrial production increased by 18.8 per cent compared to the same period of 2016. Statistics released on Friday show that Moldovan industry had an anemic evolution in the first quarter with an insignificant increase of 0.3 per cent.

The largest part of industrial production made in free economic zones, 84.0 per cent, was exported, and goods estimated at 48.6 million lei or 2.1 per cent were sold on the domestic market of Moldova. In all, the export of goods and services of free economic zones increased by 23 per cent reaching 2 billion 111.9 million lei. The share of the free economic zones in Moldova’s exports in the first half of 2017 stood at 10.6 per cent against 10.1 per cent in the similar period of 2016 and 8.5 per cent in 2015.

Residents of free economic zones paid taxes amounting to 140.7 million lei, by 36.5 per cent more than in the first half of 2016.

In the first half of 2017, seven free economic zones worked in Moldova, with 167 residents, most of them in ZEL “Balti” (46), ZAL “Expo-Business-Chisinau” (40), ZEL “Unghenin-Business” (34) and ZAL PP “Valkanes” (24).

The Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure also announces that in the second half of this year, new investment projects will be carried out in some free economic zones. They will facilitate the increase in investments, as well as the creation of a large number of new jobs.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcază)

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