Avon to make Poland its European production center

Avon Cosmetics Polska released its plans yesterday concerning expansion of its cosmetic plant in Garwolin. The U.S.-based corporation will invest $33 million in the plant. Poland was chosen because of the cooperative climate with local authorities, and low labor costs. Avon's plant in Garwolin is to be the company's strategic production center for all of Europe. Production is estimated to grow from 43 million pieces of cosmetics last year to 185 million by 2002. The expansion is scheduled to be completed next year. The plant will increase the number of employees from 420 to 900. Sixty percent of the the cosmetics produced in Garwolin will be exported to 20 countries in Europe and Asia. But this is not the only Avon investment in Poland at the moment. The company has decided to build its office building in Warsaw at an estimated cost of $10 million. (Puls Biznesu, page 5) A.D.