First possible problems with Lockheed Martin offset contracts appear

Enterprises have prepared the list of offset projects they want realized by the F-16 offset deal. The Offset Committee wants to focus on projects connected with the development of new environment friendly technologies. Among the companies to benefit from the projects is Poznan-based Hipolit Cegielski, which due to the crisis in the shipbuilding industry, has been hovering on the verge of bankruptcy. "Our choice is either to further reduce employment, or to expand our range of services," said Cegielski's spokesman Boleslaw Januszkiewicz. "The Americans want to enter safe investments, while Polish companies want to become more competitive, this may prove to be conflictual," said Michal Kleiber, the head of the Offset Committee. He confirmed that the government would not insist on forcing Lockheed Martin to increase its offset liabilities from $6 billion to $9.8 billion. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) K.Z.