Government earmarks zl.71 million for small and medium sized business

Economy Minister Janusz Steinhoff said yesterday that development of small- and medium-sized companies and supporting Polish exports are national priorities, and announced that the government budget plans to increase spending on small and medium sized companies to zl.71 million in 2001, a figure 3.5 times larger than in 2000. Money will mostly be spent for granting loans for modern technology adaptation and refunding trips to trade fairs, the latter helping to simplify promotion of Polish products abroad. Regional consulting-advisory centers will be opened in order to facilitate access of entrepreneurs to expertise and information, chiefly concerning the possibilities of receiving European Union (EU) funds. "This community of almost three million small and middle sized companies, which produces over half of our GDP, will determine our future position on European markets," said Steinhoff. (Prawo i Gospodarka, pp. 1, 2)