Foreign investments exceeded $10 bn last year, up from $8.3 bn in 1999

Foreign companies invested more than $10 billion in Poland last year as compared to $8.3 billion in 1999, announced the National Agency for Foreign Investment (PAIZ). The increase suggests there is no immediate relation between the investment inflow and economic growth, said yesterday Dariusz Rosati, member of the Monetary Policy Council (RPP), as Poland's GDP growth has been dropping over the past four years. PAIZ head Adam Pawlowicz expects foreign direct investments (FDIs) to decrease in three to four years time, after major privatization projects are completed. However, in the long term he believes FDIs will recover to at least their current level. The phenomenon will be closely related with Poland's EU accession. (Rzeczpospolita, Feb. 24-25. p.B2) M. S.-C.