P&G picks Poland

Procter & Gamble (P&G), one of the world's biggest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) producers, is preparing to open a new factory in the Łódź Special Economic Zone (ŁSEZ), for the production of diapers, lotions and shampoos for kids.

P&G has submitted a letter of intent in which it declares a will to invest EUR 40 (zł.152) million and create 200 jobs in the zone. However the president of ŁSEZ, Andrzej Ośniecki, revealed that the investment would eventually amount to EUR 100 (zł.380) million and result in nearly 500 new jobs.

The main reason P&G chose ŁSEZ was the fact that its partner company Gillette has a plant there. "For Procter & Gamble it was doubtlessly important that Gillette has already chosen ŁSEZ," P&G spokesperson Małgorzata Mejer said.

Gillette signed a contract with the economic zone in 2004 to build a EUR 120 (zł.456) million plant, which currently employs 600 people and will ultimately provide jobs for twice as many. The investment is Gillette's largest in the world. "I was told that [P&G] made the decision based on Gillette's positive experience with the economic zone," Ośniecki said. (Puls Biznesu)