Foreign investment exceeds $10 billion in 2000, but 2001 growth in doubt

Direct foreign investment in Poland surpassed $10 billion in 2000, but this year that achievement will be very hard to repeat, since regulations make it hard for foreign companies to invest. Moreover, economic growth is decreasing and privatization of huge companies is near an end. "Without an executive order for amendments to bills changing regulations regarding exemptions in Special Economic Zones (SSE), we can lose several huge investments," warned Adam Pawlowicz,.director of Polish Foreign Investment Agency (PAIZ). Foreign investors in 2000 were most willing to invest in the food, automotive, and non-metallic raw materials sectors. "Investments in the production sector provide long term development of the economy, but Poland lacks investments in most modern technologies," Pawlowicz said. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 4) M.M.