OREANDA-NEWS. August 28, 2007. In January-June 2007, residents of the Gomel-Raton free economic zone (FEZ) produced Br209.3 billion worth of goods and services or 48,4% up as against same period 2006. This accounts for 2,4% of the total output of Gomel oblast and 13,3% of the total output of Gomel City, BelTA learnt in the FEZ administration, reported the press-centre of Gomelinvest.

Proceeds from sale of goods and services went up by 37,8% to Br210,6 billion in January-June 2007, of them proceeds from sale of domestic goods made up Br204,9 billion.

Revenues from export of goods and services including import-substituting products sold to the domestic market accounted for 90,8% of the overall revenues in January-June 2007. Proceeds from sale of goods soared by 9,6% and exceeded Br14 billion, FEZ administration noted.

Gomel-Raton residents attracted Br20,1 billion worth of investments or 46,6% up as against same period 2006. Capital investments in purchase of machines and equipment made up 82,4%, construction investments accounted for 17,5%.

In H1, 2007 some $4,9 million were invested in FEZ, including $3,8 million worth of direct investments, of them 53,1% were injected in Gomel oblast and 57,9% in Gomel City.

Tax revenues from FEZ residents totaled Br23,9 billion in H1, 2007.

The FEZ foreign trade generated $106,1 million, an increase of 55,9% as compared to the same time last year. The trade surplus amounted to $2,5 million.

In H1, 2007, Gomel-Raton companies created 211 new jobs bringing the average number of FEZ employees to 7,110 pe