Parliament passed in two readings supplements to the Law on the Free Economic Zone “Balti” by which an area of about 8 ha located in Orhei district is added to it. The initiative is based on the request made by an important foreign investor, IPN reports.
The German-Japanese company Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze GmbH (SEBN), which produces and supplies wire harnesses and other components for the automotive industry, forms part of the international group Sumitomo Electric Industries Group that runs about 331 branches in more than 30 countries. In 2013-2014, SEBN earned about €1 billion revenues.
The SEBN has recently registered is representative office in Moldova and plans to invest approximately 17 million in the construction of a factory that will employ about 3,200 persons, 180 of whom will be engineers. The company expressed its interest in a plot of 8 ha located in Orhei district owing to its favorable geographical location, the development level of Orhei district, available workforce, existent infrastructure, access to the national roads, etc.
The authors of the bill – members of a number of parliamentary groups – argued the implementation of this investment project will contribute to creating a considerable number of jobs, increasing the industrial production intended for export and to the region’s economic development.
According to the general urban development plan of Orhei town, the land of 8 ha is intended exclusively for industrial constructions such as factories, industrial parks and storehouses.
