Prokom forecasts a lean year with the profits to roll in next year

IT company Prokom announced on Friday that several large public contracts it has won will bring only costs this year, with revenues starting to flow next year. National systems integrators, which have seen margins squeezed by the ongoing economic slowdown, have been counting on a number of large contracts later this year, some associated with preparation for EU membership expected in 2004. Prokom and rival Computerland are tipped by analysts as the favorites to build a zł. 3 billion Tetra municipal services communications system and the CRUM nationwide medical register, valued at up to zł. 1 billion. The projects are part of a package of offset investments. In related news, Prokom with its financial partners, is the first on the list to purchase Czech computer integrator PVT and is also planning purchasing an Austrian IT company, Puls Biznesu learnt unofficially. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4; Reuters) A.Z.