Carmen about to cancel investment following bureaucratic blocking tactics

Carman Polska, part of an American car service network, will limit its investments in Poznan due to the indolence of the local civil servants. The company, which recently opened a new zl. 3 million servicing center, said it might also be their last in Poznan. "We wanted to build six to eight stations back in 2000, which would mean zl. 20 million in investments and 200 jobs," explained Carman Polska representative Boguslaw Pawlak. "The new situation is a direct result of the lack of professional approach to business on the side of civil servants, who without any justification, keep hindering our projects," he added. According to Pawlak, all documents required for further investments to go ahead simply "got stuck" in Poznan's Urban Development Department and it is unlikely that they will resurface. Despite their numerous requests, Carman has been refused the green light to construct new service centers eight times. The authorities did not comment on the issue. Carman, with 39 service centers across the country, has been active on the market since 1999. It is now planning to open over 100 new stations, investing around zl. 300 million by the end of 2004. (Puls Biznesu, p. 12) J.K.