The zone has specifically favorable harbor conditions, with Rajin, Sonbong, Chongjin and Ungsang ports built within the radius of 50 kilometers.

The ports can timely handle cargos on trade among Northeast Asian nations. They are directly connected to northeast China and Russia's Khasan by rails and road.

With Taecho and Socho islets as breakwaters, Rajin Port can be expanded and it is operational throughout the year.

The zone also boasts of geographical conditions good for developing economic cooperation among regional countries.

Generally, it takes two hours by air and one day by ship to reach any area and country in Northeast Asia from the zone.

With no route to the East Sea of Korea, northeast China's provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang have trucked freights to Dalian Port in Liaoning Province for shipment to the Pacific nations.

The railway extension from Hunchun to Dalian is more than 1 200 kilometers, while from Hunchun to Rajin nearly 110 kilometers. The roads from Changchun of Jilin Province and Harbin of Heilongjiang Province to Rajin are 200 and 280 km respectively shorter than from those to Dalian.

Meanwhile, sea route from China's Dalian Port to Japan's Niigata Port covers 1 070 miles, while from Rajin Port to Niigata Port 475 miles.

Rajin Port can also serve as a gateway to Europe from Northeast Asia.

The route from Kobe or Niigata ports of Japan to Rotterdam via Rajin Port takes three days earlier than that via Vladivostok Port and nine days earlier than that via Suez Canal.

At present many foreign firms are carrying on business activities in the zone and more businessmen have shown their willingness to invest in it.