Budma construction fair opens amid difficult times in building industry

Budma, the biggest construction fair in Poland, is set to begin today in Poznan. The fair is host to 1,300 exhibitors from 34 countries, including 86 German companies. The lower interest in Budma this year has been caused by a crisis in the construction industry in Poland. According to Boguslaw Zalewski, "This year Budma is looking towards the Eastern markets because they present an opportunity for Polish construction companies and because Russian President Vladimir Putin will be a guest of the event." President Putin, along with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, will be special guests at the fair on Wednesday. The Budma fair is accompanied by the 2nd Poland-Russia Economic Forum, organized by the Eastern Club in cooperation with the Russian Association of Industry Members and Entrepreneurs, which plans to welcome 100 top Russian businesspeople. For the first time Ukrainian companies will be among the guests of the fair. (Puls Biznesu, p. 9) P.W.