ROLE OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES IN SOLVING OF REGIONAL PROBLEMS

The article presents the results of a study conducted by the authors on the essence of special economic zones, their classification and stages of development. The authors emphasize the presence of many definitions that are not always consistent with each oth-er and the underdevelopment of the theoret-ical concept of special economic zones. The approach proposed by the authors to deter-mining the influence of special economic zones on solving regional problems is of sci-entific and practical interest. Among the re-sulting benefits of creating special economic zones, which are aimed at the sustainable development of territories, the authors high-light increased competitiveness in the export market, achievement of economic diversity through the introduction of new activities and sectors, and increased foreign exchange earnings.