Indebted factory may show profits from exporting boots to the Bundeswehr

Footwear producer Zaklady Obuwnicze Chelmek may have its zl. 18.5 million debt to the tax office and Social Insurance Company (ZUS) frozen as part of a government strategy to aid light industry.The company has no bad commercial debts which would threaten its further development, and restructuring liabilities may improve Chelmek's financial standing. According to company president Janusz Molenda, the company may show a profit in 2001 due to a planned increase in boot exports to foreign armies. The company currently supplies boots to the German army amounting to 190,000 pairs annually and this number could increase to 250,000 by year's end, ultimately reaching a total of 350,000 to 400,000 boots exported next year. This would in turn increase employment, since over the last few months, thanks to the sale of army boots, Chelmek staff increased from 550 to over 700 workers.(Puls Biznesu, Nov. 4-5, pp. 1, 7)