Bridgestone building
Bridgestone has signed an investment agreement with Polish authorities for the construction of a tire plant in Stargard Szczeciński. The new factory will employ 760 new workers, of whom 150 will be staff with higher education. The plant's production capacity is expected to reach 5,000 tires a day.
"The construction of a new plant in Europe was forced by the fast development of the sector," Takashi Urano, president of Bridgestone Europe, told Gazeta Wyborcza.
"I'm sure that more investors will follow Bridgestone to Stargard Szczeciński," Economy Minister Piotr Woniak said after he signed the investment contract.
According to Bridgestone, the choice of the new location was based on the quality and accessibility of human resources, as well as its cooperation with local authorities. Before the investment agreement was signed, the city agreed to build the plot's sewage, water and road infrastructure. Local authorities' expenses will be covered through municipal bonds worth zł.20 million, which will be issued between 2007-2010. The plant will help alleviate the area's crippling 20 percent unemployment.
In Poland Bridgestone is the owner of Bridgestone Diversified Products Poland in Żarów, Firestone Industrial Products Poland in Wolsztyn, and Bridgestone Sales Polska in Warsaw. Altogether, Bridgestone employs more than 1,400 people in Poland.
