RECORD FIRST QUARTER AND GROWTH OF JOBS IN TIDZ
In the first quarter of 2023, exports from industrial zones reached 951.6 million euros, which is the highest level so far in the last five years. The analysis of TIDZ shows that it is an increase of almost 12% compared to the same period last year and over 22% compared to 2021. Compared to the first quarter of 2020, the export activity of companies has increased by as much as 59%, compared to 2019 by 37%, that is, by 72% compared to 2018.
On a monthly level, the total export from the zones in March reached 345 million euros, which is 31% higher compared to March 2022.
And in terms of imports, the highest level has been registered so far in terms of the comparison by quarters in the past five years. Thus, imports in the first quarter of this year reached 770 million euros and is 3.5% higher than the first quarter of last year, and almost 5% higher compared to the first quarter of 2021. The increase in imports compared to 2020 is as much as 40%, while compared to the first quarter of 2019, imports grew by 21%, i.e. 57% compared to 2018. In the zones in March, the monthly import in TIDZ is at the level of 279 million, which is for 17 % more compared to March last year. The analysis shows that in the third month of the year a high level of net export of 23.4% was registered.
The analysis also shows that the growth of the number of employees, which reached the highest level ever in March, continues. 16,650 of our fellow citizens work in the companies in TIDZ, which is almost 15% more compared to the same period last year. Since the beginning of this year alone, over 260 of our fellow citizens have been employed in the companies in TIDZ.
It is expected that the growth trend will continue, considering that in the last two years, TIDZ has reached agreements in the total volume of over 620 million euros and these should bring over 5000 new jobs.