In the second half of 20th century under Soviet rule Liep?ja became an industrial city and a large number of high technology plants were founded, including:
1. Mashzavod
2. Liepajselmash � 1954 (now Hidrolats)
3. Sarkanais Metalurgs (now Liep?jas Metalurgs)
4. SRZ-29
5. LBORF � 1964
6. Bolshevik � 1949 (now Kursa)
7. Perambulator factory "Liep?ja"
8. Mixed fodder plant
9. Sugar plant
10. Match factory "Baltija"� 1957
11. Ferro-concrete constructions plant � 1959
12. Oil extraction plant
13. SU-426 of BMGS (now BMGS)
14. Lauma � 1972
15. Linoleum plant
16. Shoes factory
After collapse of USSR's centrally planned economy, only a small number of these plants continue to operate.
Within Latvia Liep?ja is well known mostly by coffee brand Liep?jas kafija, beer L?vu alus and sugar Liep?jas cukurs. In 1997 theLiepaja Special Economic Zone was established for 20 years providing a low tax environment in order to attract foreign investments and facilitate the economic development of Liep?ja, but investment growth remained slow due to a shortage of skilled labor force. The main industries in Liep?ja are the steel producer Liep?jas Metalurgs, building firm UPB and the underwear brand Lauma. The economy of Liep?ja relies heavily on its port which accepts a wide range of cargo. The most notable companies working in Liepaja's port are Baltic Transshipment Center, Liepajas Osta LM, Laskana, Astramar and Terrabalt. After joining European Union in 2004, most Liep?ja companies was faced with strict European rules and terse competition and was forced to
