Free economic zone Grodnoinvest has been established in 2002 г.

Geographically, FEZ is situated in the north-west of the country in immediate proximity to the border of Belarus with Poland and Lithuania.

Four land plots of FEZ to the total area of 1046 hectares are located in Grodno and the Grodno region. Plots of ground on which enterprises are to be built total to 351 hectares.

Grodno was first mentioned in Chronicles in 1128. Grodno is a major industrial, scientific and cultural center with a population of 320 thousand people. There are 3 public universities, 5 branches of higher educational institutions and about 20 colleges and specialized schools. This makes it easy to find and employ qualified managerial personnel and labor.

The boundary position of FEZ contributes to faster customs clearance and movement of goods.

The airport is capable of landing practically any type of aircraft. There are two railway transport corridors in operation with exits to Poland and Lithuania. Cargo may be carried by carriages of narrow (European) gauge.

The Grodno river port can be used for cargo delivery by the Neman River via Lithuania to the Baltic Sea. The nearest checkpoint on the European Union border is at a distance of 15 kilometers from the city.

Among the most important advantages of investment are 10 plots of land available for development (early 2006) of 0.5 to 3.5 hectares. The plots are located in Grodno and are provided with communication networks and access roads. Engineering infrastructure is further developed in the plots.

Any prospective investor will be assisted in leasing or acquisition of private property in vacant space and incomplete projects available at the existing enterprises in the city.

For a very short period the residents contributed to creation of about 1 500 new jobs, which is 40% unemployment in Grodno.

The major portion of output (over 70%) is exported primarily to Russia.
The portion of import-substituting products is 26% of total output delivered to domestic market.

Key Enterprises

• UE Conte Calze (Belarus, Latvia, Great Britain)
  Manufacture of hosiery. Number of jobs: 493.
  
• JV Bigan Close Company (Belarus, США)
  Production of made-up casing with flexographic printing. Number of jobs: 37.
  
• Elephant and Co. Joint LLC (Belarus, Sweden)
  Major repair of buses and trucks of domestic and foreign make. Number of jobs: 34.
  
• Queenfood Joint LLC (Belarus, Poland)
  Meat processing. Number of jobs: 107.