FDI to remain unchanged

Foreign direct investment this year should reach last year's €5.3 billion ($6.1 billion), according to the economy ministry. The ministry estimates that over the next few years FDI could escalate to as much as €7 billion ($8 billion). The country has recorded €56.5 billion ($65 billion) in FDI since 1989. To increase FDI, which has fallen in recent years, the ministry plans to create a foreign investment agency to centralize the current duties of various government departments and agencies. It also pledged to be more "aggressive" in attracting and keeping international investor interest in the country after losing out on recent foreign contracts in the automotive sector.

IT firms fare badly in Q1

IT system integrators Prokom and ComputerLand both performed poorly in the first quarter of 2003. Prokom Software's profit fell to €2.5 million (zł. 11 million) in the quarter, a two-thirds decrease year-over-year. ComputerLand posted a consolidated net loss of zł. 551,000 for the quarter, compared to a €694,000 (zł. 3 million) net profit last year. Analysts expect the companies' numbers to improve later in the year.