Lockheed Martin offsets - 1:3 proposals meet objections

According to unofficial sources, some of the projects proposed within the framework of the so-called indirect offsets are unacceptable for Poland. They promote American investments and hardly touch on research and development plans. The offset committee will chose today its own compensation proposals, which could be included by Lockheed Martin in the offset agreement concerning the purchase of 48 F-16s. The compensation package comprises 37 projects, worth $3 billion. Every third project on the list has met with opposition - the combined value of which is estimated at $855 million. Those propositions that have practically been rejected are: privatisation of Polish Steel Mills (PHS), investments in pig farming and the construction of an IT center. In the structure of offset obligations over half are linked with the purchase of Polish products and services. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1, B4) A.C.