Ministers see $6 billion investments to follow conclusion of Offset deal

Poland and the United States initialed a deal on Saturday for 48 F-16 fighter planes worth $6 billion. Polish Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said the agreement with principal contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. was linked to U.S. investments in Poland which he hoped would top $6 billion. "The U.S. investment cannot be lower than this sum, but...it is highly probable that it will be above this figure," Szmajdzinski told reporters. "We would like the offset deal to be finalized within the next few weeks." Science and IT Minister Michal Kleiber, in charge of negotiating the offset package said there was, "No serious divergence" in talks between Polish officials and U.S. negotiators, who are expected to present new offset proposals next week. (Reuters) A.Z.