Klaipeda port - strategic engine of economy

Specific economic features of Klaipeda region are mostly conditioned by Klaipeda port, which is the only distant port in the North and which never freezes all year round in the East side of the Baltic sea.

Klaipeda port has big shipment capabilities in comparison to other close ports. The capacity reaches 25-30 million tons per year.

In the near future, the establishment of a modern logistics centre next to Klaipeda port together with flexible multimodal transport operations, packing and categorizing services, will turn the port into one of the best strategic economic engines in northern part of the Baltic sea.

At the moment the gates of the port (pier) are being enlarged, also road and railway net is being developed in the port as well as outside its borders. Klaipeda also pursues the building projects of modern highways for heavy trucks according to ISPA programme.

From the first decade of 2002, after the dredge of the entering canal to 14.5 metres, the ships of Pannamax type can enter Klaipeda port. In the cogitation of strategic development it is planned to dredge bunds and canal to 17 metres.

You can find thorough information about Klaipeda port in the internet site www.port.lt

Priorities, according to the general plan decision of the district, will be given to the programmes and projects, that are going to construct southern and town centre bypassing, and solve the problems of road safety in the district of Klaipeda. The priority should be given to the projects that will develop Klaipeda seaport, railway branches that serve the port, Klaipeda railway, also the projects that will help to finish the construction of Palanga bypassing, to reconstruct the road Klaipeda-Pagegiai, to develop Palanga international airport with the funds of ES, ISPA, PHARE and other international financial institutions.

Constantly growing gross domestic product (GDP)

The district of Klaipeda in regard to economic index is one of the leaders in Lithuania. From 1994 gross domestic product annually grew 3-4 %.

Successful direct foreign investments are dominated, while the investments of the state are indirect and have less influence to economic development of the district.

The most perspective industry in Klaipeda district is food industry, shipbuilding and repairs, timber and light industry.

Consequent and productive economic surrounding

Two economic development centers developed in the district. Klaipeda and Palanga are located by the seaside together with resort centers in Palanga and Nida. The rest part of the district consists of Silute, Gargzdai, Kretinga and Skuodas sub centers.

The population of these towns is more than 70%. About 70% out of it are the habitants of Klaipeda.

The concentration of recourses in Klaipeda and around the town is very big, inclusive about 83% of the district employees, 89% of capital, 85% of income and 95 % of the whole profit.

Remarkable enterprise

8738 subjects of economic activity are registered in the district of Klaipeda. At the moment about 59% of existing enterprises in the district are small or medium size enterprises. Moreover, in the District Tax Inspection there are registered and given about 6000 licences for different economic activity. The facility of home trade is well developed in Klaipeda district.   61 shops fell on 10.000 habitants of the district in 1999. That is the biggest index among all districts of Lithuania. The average useful trade area in the shops reaches 78 square meters. In summer about 350.000 and in winter about 30.000 tourists and visitors come to the district. The district has 80% of all fish recourses in Lithuania and also the biggest fishing business facility and qualified working power.

The biggest enterprises in the Klaipeda County*

UAB Baltijos automobilių technika

AB LISCO

AB KLASCO

UAB Minijos Nafta

AB Švyturys

AB Baltijos laivų statykla

AB Vakarų laivų remontas

AB Klaipėdos nafta

AB Kretingos grūdai

AB Klaipėdos mediena

AB Klaipėdos energija

UAB Genčių nafta

AB Klaipėdos transporto laivynas

UAB Krantas Shipping

AB Klaipėdos baldai

AB Geonafta

AB Hidrostatyba

AB Klaipėdos pienas

UAB Pemco kuras

UAB Pajūrio mediena

*According to the ‘Verslo zinios’ combined research (Business leaders)

The factors of success in business in Klaipeda County:

• Well developed multimodal facility of transport, that is integrated into European transit corridors;

• Big amount of young, educated and qualified habitants;

• Consecution and prediction of economic growth;

• Big amount of direct foreign investments, that singles out Klaipeda County from other counties of the country;

• Quality standards and stability conditioned by joining EU and NATO.

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© 2003 Klaipeda County Head Administration