Economy of Białystok


 * This is a sub-article to Białystok

In the 19th century Białystok was an important center for light industry and was the reason for the substantial growth of the city's population. The tradition continued with many garment factories established in the 20th century, such as Fasty in the district of Bacieczki. However, after the fall of communism in 1989 many of these factories faced severe problems and subsequently closed down.

The unemployment rate for February 2011 in Białystok was 13.2%. The 2009 average household had a monthly per capita income of 1018.77 zł and monthly per capita expenses of 823.56 zł

Industry
The leading industries in the city's economy are: food processing (production of meat products, fruit and vegetable products, the production of spirits, the production of frozen food, grain processing), electrical engineering (production tools and equipment for machine tools, production of electric heaters, manufacture and production mixers household appliances). There is also a developed machine industry (electronics, machinery and metal), plastic processing (production of household appliances), textiles (textiles and upholstery, manufacture of underwear, clothing accessories, footwear and backpacks), Wood (production plywood and furniture) building materials. Białystok is a major center for the textile industry is also developed machine industry (electronics, machinery and metal), wood, alcoholic beverages, building materials, glass factory and power generation.


 * Agnella, a major Polish producer of carpets and similar products is in Białystok, located in the district of Białostoczek.
 * Biaglass Huta Szkla Białystok was established in 1929 and has specialized in the production of mouth blown glass lampshades. Biaglass belongs to elite group of Glass Works in Europe, where 100% our lighting glass is mouth-blown.
 * Białystok Power Station is a co-generation power plant in the city.
 * Bianor, a Dutch-owned maker of plastic parts and products for the household appliances and other industries, is expanding its manufacturing facility in Białystok.
 * Biazet is a large manufacture of household appliances, including vacuum cleaners, coffee makers, and LED lighting located in Białystok.
 * Dojlidy Brewery in the district of Dojlidy and is owned by the Kompampania Piwowarska group. The brewery produces the second most popular beer in Poland, Żubr, featuring the motif of the European bison (one of Podlaskie's tourist attractions) in its marketing campaign.
 * Philips Domestic Appliances has a factory in the city.
 * PhotoAid, a biometric photography company, one of the organizations based in the Bialystok Science and Technology Park,
 * Polmos Białystok, the biggest vodka manufacturer in Poland, is located in the city district of Starosielce. The company produces Absolwent and Żubrówka (bison grass vodka) - both major exports abroad.
 * Rosti, a provider of precision injection molded products for some of the world's leading brands.
 * SavaPol is a manufacturer of stationary and mobile concrete mixing equipment based in Białystok.
 * Standard Motor Products began manufacturing ignition coils for original equipment manufacturers over thirty years ago.
 * Supon Białystok is a production and trade enterprise with over 40 years of tradition. They are the leading Polish producer of fire fighting equipment.

Border crossings
The area has a number of nearby border crossings. The border with Belarus is only 50 km away, the nearest border crossings are located in; Bobrowniki (road crossing located about  50 km from the city limits), Kuźnica Białostocka (road and rail crossing located  60 km from the city limits), Siemianowka (railway - freight traffic), Połowce (road) and Czeremcha (railway).

Since the border with Belarus is also the eastern border of the European Union, as well as the Schengen Area the city is a center for trade in mainly from the east.

City budget
For the 2010-2011 Fiscal year the city received revenue (taxes levied + investments) of 1,409,565,525 zł, expended 1,676,459,102 zł leaving a budget deficit of 266,893,577 zł. The deficit was covered by short-term borrowing of 166,893,577 zł and the issuance of 100 million zł in municipal bonds.

Land use
The city covers 10212 ha of which 3210 ha is Agricultural land, 4889 ha is Urbanized areas, 85 ha is surface waters and 65 ha is wasteland.

International trade
The city lies close to the Polish border with Lithuania and Belarus, with the nearest border checkpoint with Belarus in Bobrowniki only 40 km away. Since the border with Belarus is also the eastern border of the European Union, as well as the Schengen Area, Białystok plays an important role in managing the border's security with the regional office of the Polish Border Guard, (Straż Graniczna) located in the city.

The city is a center for trade in mainly from the east. It works in the Eastern Market Promotion Centre. Białystok Market hosts international textiles and clothing, food processing, consumer goods, agricultural products, and food.

Retail
In Białystok there are: 7 hypermarkets, 27 supermarkets, 9 shopping malls (Galeria Biała, Alfa, two Auchan, Kwadrat, Podlaska, Zielone Wzgórza, Galeria M, Galeria Antoniukowska), 19 electronic stores, supermarkets construction and decoration.