CIS traders begin to overcome visa problems

The introduction of visas for citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus from October 1 has limited cross-border trade, but it is hard to estimate how th is will influence Poland's foreign trade balance. "As soon as visa came into force, trade died immediately, but a week later, the first traders started to come back to Biała Podlaska," said Jerzy Tymoszuk, a person-administering the city bazaar. However, he added that despite the fact that large the tra ders have returned, the number of smaller ones has dropped fourfold. "Export of food products to the East constituted so far about 20% of our annual tur nover. In October, initial figures show that it fell by roughly a quarter a nd that it will stay at this lower level for at least November," said Zbign iew Szycher, co-owner of Mazex company. Regional data on foreign trade in O ctober and November will be known in a few months. In 2002, trade with Ukra ine amounted to $1.6 billion and the main export goods were machines and eq uipment, furniture and food. (www.onet.pl) M.M. This Week in Warsaw Business Journal Feature: Compensation at the top An onslaught of affordable air travel From WSE to private hospital Black socks a few clicks away Telecom's destination: Iraq A rise – just in time for Christmas