The economy of Costa Rica has been very stable for some years now, with continuing growth in the GDP and moderate inflation, though with a high unemployment rate: 11.49% in 2019. Costa Rica's economy emerged from recession in 1997 and has shown strong aggregate growth since then. The estimated GDP for 2023 is US$90 billion, up significantly from the US$52.6 billion in 2015 while the estimated 2024 per capita is US$28,558.
The economy of Georgia is an emerging free market economy. Its gross domestic product fell sharply following the dissolution of the Soviet Union but recovered in the mid-2000s, growing in double digits thanks to the economic and democratic reforms brought by the peaceful Rose Revolution. Georgia continued its economic progress since "moving from a near-failed state in 2003 to a relatively well-functioning market economy in 2014". In 2007, the World Bank named Georgia the World's number one economic reformer.
The economy of Kazakhstan is the largest in Central Asia in both absolute and per capita terms. As of 2023, Kazakhstan attracted more than US$370 billion of foreign investments since becoming an independent republic after the dissolution of the former Soviet Union.
A special economic zone (SEZ) is an area in which the business and trade laws are different from the rest of the country. SEZs are located within a country's national borders, and their aims include increasing trade balance, employment, increased investment, job creation and effective administration. To encourage businesses to set up in the zone, financial policies are introduced. These policies typically encompass investing, taxation, trading, quotas, customs and labour regulations. Additionally, companies may be offered tax holidays, where upon establishing themselves in a zone, they are granted a period of lower taxation.
A free-trade zone (FTZ) is a class of special economic zone. It is a geographic area where goods may be imported, stored, handled, manufactured, or reconfigured and re-exported under specific customs regulation and generally not subject to customs duty. Free trade zones are generally organized around major seaports, international airports, and national frontiers—areas with many geographic advantages for trade.
A foreign direct investment (FDI) refers to purchase of an asset in another country, such that it gives direct control to the purchaser over the asset. In other words, it is an investment in the form of a controlling ownership in a business, in real estate or in productive assets such as factories in one country by an entity based in another country. It is thus distinguished from a foreign portfolio investment or foreign indirect investment by a notion of direct control.
Foreign direct investment in Iran (FDI) has been hindered by unfavorable or complex operating requirements and by international sanctions, although in the early 2000s the Iranian government liberalized investment regulations. Iran ranks 62nd in the World Economic Forum's 2011 analysis of the global competitiveness of 142 countries. In 2010, Iran ranked sixth globally in attracting foreign investments.
Trade is a key factor of the economy of China. In the three decades following the dump of the Communist Chinese state in 1949, China's trade institutions at first developed into a partially modern but somewhat inefficient system. The drive to modernize the economy that began in 1978 required a sharp acceleration in commodity flows and greatly improved efficiency in economic transactions. In the ensuing years economic reforms were adopted by the government to develop a socialist market economy. This type of economy combined central planning with market mechanisms. The changes resulted in the decentralization and expansion of domestic and foreign trade institutions, as well as a greatly enlarged role for free market in the distribution of goods, and a prominent role for foreign trade and investment in economic development.
Forestry in Russia is a set of industries related to wood harvesting and processing. It is one of the oldest sectors in the country's economy, Russia's timber industry is valued at $20 billion per year, and as at 2022, is the second largest producer of industrial roundwood. Russia has more than a fifth of the world's forests, making it the largest forest country in the world. According to data for 2015, the total forest area has exceeded 885 million hectares, representing 45% of the total area of the country. The stock of wood in the area was 82 billion cubic meters. However in 2023 academics complained that not enough information had been published.
The economy of Belarus is an upper-middle income mixed economy. As a post-Soviet transition economy, Belarus rejected most privatisation efforts in favour of retaining centralised political and economic controls by the state. The highly centralized Belarusian economy emphasizes full employment and a dominant public sector. It has been described as a welfare state or market socialist. Belarus is the world's 74th-largest economy by GDP.
The economy of Lithuania is the largest economy among the three Baltic states. Lithuania is a member of the European Union and belongs to the group of very high human development countries and is a member of the WTO and OECD.
Klaipėda Free Economic Zone or Klaipėda FEZ is the first free economic zone in the Baltics. It was established in 1996 and officially launched in 2002.
Tangier's economy is the third biggest of all Moroccan cities, after the economic capital Casablanca and the city of Fez. Tangier is Morocco's second most important industrial center after Casablanca. The industrial sectors are diversified: textile, chemical, mechanical, metallurgical and naval. Currently, the city has four industrial parks of which two have the status of free economic zone.
Alabuga is a special economic zone of an industrial and production type located in a 20 km2 area in the Yelabuzhsky District of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Kama Innovative Territorial Production Cluster 10 km from Yelabuga, 25 km from Naberezhnye Chelny, 40 km from Nizhnekamsk and 210 km from the regional center — Kazan. The shareholders of the management company of the SEZ "Alabuga" are the Russian Federation through the JSC "Special Economic Zones" with 100% state participation.
Sughd free economic zone is an industrial-innovative type, which was established in 2009 according to the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan dated May 2, 2008.
The Kaunas Free Economic Zone (FEZ) or Kaunas FEZ (Lithuanian: Kauno laisvoji ekonominė zona) is a free economic zone near Kaunas, Lithuania. It is a 534 hectare industrial development area which offers favorable and smaller taxes for production or logistics companies which invest at least 1 million euros or service companies which invest more than 100 thousand euros and employ over 20 people. The investors are mostly foreign companies, as more than 70% of total investments in Kaunas FEZ are foreign direct investments (FDI).
This article describes the Philippine investment climate.
The China–Belarus Industrial Park "Great Stone" is a special economic zone in Belarus, established under the intergovernmental agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Belarus. The park offers easy access to International Highways M1/E30 and M4, International Airport, International Railways and the capital of Belarus (Minsk) with its labour and scientific potential. Great Stone Industrial Park is designated for high-tech industrial and business activities, including research and development, manufacturing and assembly, warehousing and logistic facilities. Park tax benefits, free customs regime within the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), including Russia and Kazakhstan, open market opportunities for 183 million customers.
Panevėžys free economic zone is a special economic zone located in Panevėžys, Lithuania. It is a 47 hectares industrial area and was established in 2013. Panevėžys FEZ is part of Ogmios group, which is a leading real estate developer in Lithuania. It offers industrial, logistics and other companies fast and flexible set-up process, fully ready infrastructure and 0% tax incentives.
