Grodno Region
Grodno Region is situated in the western part of the Republic of Belarus at
the crossroads of critical international transport corridors. Its territory
occupies more than 25,000 square kilometers, with 1,151,000 population, of
which 748,000 live in towns. The region's capital is the city of Grodno,
other large cities are Lida, Volkovysk, Slonim.
The region's territory is mostly flat. Mineral resources are represented by
non-metals: clays, chalk, silicate sand, peat. Vast areas are covered with
woods which account for one third of the region's territory. The river Neman
is the third largest river in Belarus.
Grodno Region has a developed scientific and technical potential. 28
regional organizations including 6 specialized and 3 academic establishments
are involved in R&D activities.
Grodno Region is the venue of numerous international and republican contests
and festivals. One of the most important is the annual Belarusl Festival of
National Cultures in Grodno.
The region has a developed and diverse industrial potential: 272 industrial
enterprises, of which 134 are private, produce some 10% of the republican
industrial output. The region's major enterprises – OJSC Grodno Azot, OJSC
Grodno Khimvolokno, OJSC Belkard, OJSC Lakokraska, OJSC
Krasnoselskstroimaterialy, PRUP glassworks Neman – are widely known in other
countries of the world.
In the area of industrial production key drivers are machine building,
metalworking, food, chemicals, forestry, woodcutting, pulp & paper and
building materials industries.
Businesses offer a wide range of products: fertilizers, chemical fibers and
yarn, paintwork and coatings, harvesters, building materials, buses,
medications and vitamins, tobacco, as well as consumer goods, woodcutting
and agricultural produce.
Almost 50% of the production is exported to more than 80 countries
worldwide.
Grodno region is a leading agricultural producer in the republic. The region
accounts for 22% of the country's gross agricultural product. It is No. 1 in
Belarus by crops yield and cattle productivity. Grodno specializes in beef
and dairy farming, grain, beetroots and flax-fibers production.
Diversity of the region production potential and its favorable geographic
location create favorable investment climate. Businesses are ready to
consider investors' proposals related to modernization, technical and
technological upgrade of the existing production facilities, launching of
hi-tech productions. A number of companies intend to convert some of their
unprofitable production facilities launching new productions at the
underutilized production areas.
Grodno is very much interested in attracting investments for the purposes of
restructuring and conversion of enterprises formerly engaged in defense
industry as well as facilities located at former military bases. These
include RUE Radiovolna in the city of Grodno, optical tools manufacturing
plat in the city of Smorgon, Optic and Isotron in the city of Lida.
Grodno has all the potential to intensify investments inflow through the
sales to foreign investors of the restructured enterprises' shares.
Production amalgamations – Azot (Nitrogen) and Khimvolokno (Chemical Fibers)
– have been changed into open joint stock companies. Their development
program involves a number of important investment projects. For instance,
the investment plan of OJSC Grodno Azot provides for attracting investments
to upgrade productions of caprolactam, ammonia, air separation plants.
A number of furniture and woodcutting companies (OJSC Grodno Furniture
Factory, Lida Furniture Factory, OJSC Slonnimmebel) are ready to cooperate
with investors to create new joint ventures and production entities with
foreign capital.
Smorgon components manufacturing plant is seeking a partner to launch
production of small-size appliances, special purpose units (mechanisms) for
road, communal and farming facilities and civil engineering.
Grodno businesses are ready to consider other investment proposals and
intentions regarding projects of modernization and upgrading of the existing
production facilities and launching of new production based on novel and
hi-tech technologies.
FEZ Grodnoinvest
is currently operating in the city of Grodno opening up broad opportunities
to both local and foreign investors to realize a wide range of investment
intentions though implementation of promising high technology projects.
Favorable investment climate is being created in the area of SME business
whose share in the economy is constantly growing.
The region is traversed by a high-capacity transit thoroughfare linking West
and East Europe. This means highly attractive investments into construction,
reconstruction and upgrading of transport infrastructure, improvement of
road catering and amenities, frontier customs offices and other services.
Other interesting opportunities might include investments into replacement
of ageing fleet of truck companies, further expansion of auto shops chain
for cars maintenance and warranted repairs.
Grodno is famous for its heritage, unique monuments of architecture, culture
and arts. This land gave the world such geniuses as poet, critic and
essayist Adam Mickevich, writer Elisa Orzeszkowa, scholar Euphem Karski,
composer Michael Oginski, revolutionaries Igantii Domeiko, Kasuts
Kalinovski, Valery Vrubelewksi and others.
Over 1.5 thousand historic and cultural monuments have been preserved, of
which 480 have a national status. By UNESCO decision Mirski Castle has been
included in the World Heritage List.
Grodno has 68 natural area preserves under the state protection including
two national parks. Especially popular among tourists is the Belovezhskaya
Pushcha National Park preserved pristine from prehistoric times with its
rich endogenous flora and fauna. The reservation part of the park has been
included in the World Heritage List. The unique cultural and historic
heritage of Grodno region creates favorable conditions for investments into
tourist business. To this end the regional authorities have developed and
are currently implementing a long-term concept of tourism development under
which framework it is planned to develop and get approved a routing scheme
with the related service infrastructure for international tourism. Tourist
business gives fast payback. This is why it is included in the region's top
priorities in investment area.
Contact information:
Grodno Regional Administration/Department of Economy
3, Orzeszkowa Str.,
Grodno, 230023
Tel. (375 152) 440343
Tel./Fax: (375 152) 721358
www.region.grodno.by
