One of the biggest construction companies in Europe, French Lafarge,
plans to invest an additional $252 million (zl.1.1 billion) in Poland by
2003. Investment in cement production alone will total $150 million, of
which most important will be construction of a production line in the
Cementownia Kujawy mill, making it the most modern in Poland when up and
running by the end of 2002. "The Malogoszcz and Wierzbica cement mills
will be modernized; Wierzbica will no longer be a cement plant but will
instead focus on dross processing," said Stefan Makarczyk, secretary of
Lafarge Polska. Since Lafarge entered Kujawy in 1995, employment
decreased from 1,540 to 730. Modernization of other plants will lead to
further layoffs, but "the surplus of our employees may be taken over by
our sub-contractors and partner companies," said Makarczyk. In the
beginning of 200, Lafarge Nida Gips will open a gypsum tiles plant in
Gacki, worth zl.50 million. In the period from 1995 to 1999, Lafarge has
spent $357 million in Poland. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1; 5) M.M.
