Gazumping costs city zł.150 million

Japanese company Fuji Seal International was due to finalize plans for a zł.150-million packaging plant in Grodzisk Mazowiecki near Warsaw last week. However, at the very last moment, several plot owners demanded more money for their land than had originally been agreed upon. The firm has pulled out of the deal and is now looking for another location within 100 kilometers of Warsaw. "There are many offers, but only two locations are prepared for beginning an investment immediately," said Sebastian Mikosz, deputy president of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency. However, land prices in the two locations are much higher than in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, and it is uncertain if the investor would accept them. Fuji Seal has already warned that if it does not finalize the transaction by the end of May it will withdraw from investing in Poland altogether.