Comprehensive development of Klaipeda

Povilas Vasiliauskas, Chairman of Klaipeda City Council Committee of Strategic Development, Chairman of the Board of Klaipeda Free Economic Zone Management Company, says that the Lithuanian port city Klaipeda stands out from other towns for two main reasons: ice-free port and the only operating free economic zone in the country. Klaipeda is a safe place for investment and a convenient place to live.

These two circumstances make a favourable impact on the possibilities of Klaipeda competitiveness. The Free Economic Zone attracts foreign and Lithuanian investors with different privileges, the port - with a possibility to transport cargo all year round.

P. Vasiliauskas emphasizes that while selecting a Lithuanian town for investment, general business environment plays a very important role. Klaipeda offers political continuity and stability in the city political management for more than ten years which makes a pleasant impression on many. Both investors and other businesses in Klaipeda can easily make prognoses of their future perspectives. Instead of staging political battles, the local government concentrates on improving general business environment and the city's economy.

Klaipeda city politicians always cooperate with the national government on constructive basis - despite changes in the Government leadership, they usually manage to find the necessary form of a dialogue.
Klaipeda has its own vision for the future of the city - the plans for its strategic development have been created and confirmed. According to P. Vasiliauskas, these plans are under successful implementattion, and that is a proof of the local government's resolution, activity and constructiveness. For many years in succession the city budget has also been successfully fullfilled, its means are allocated not just for common improvement of the living environment, but for the development of various infrastructure projects. All that is a strong and positive signal for investors.

Mr Vasiliauskas is convinced that Klaipeda is a good place not only because of geographical reasons. Indeed, it is a wonderful spot for the development of logistics, business, as well as it is attractive for living and recreation. Enquiries show that about 90% of the citizens are glad that they live in Klaipeda. The city itself and the suburbs on the Baltic Sea coastline near Klaipeda are very popular among Lithuanians and foreigners as summer resorts. More and more often these days they are selected by the klaipedians for permanent residence. Klaipeda is able to supply highly educated and skilled, young labour force that satisfies the demands of the investors.