Report published supporting Polish-owned sugar holding

Consulting firm Pro Invest International on Friday submitted a report to the Treasury Ministry supporting the creation of Polski Cukier, a holding of between 16 and 33 sugar producers, currently state controlled, that would subsequently be sold to Poles working in the sector. Pro Invest, which the government commissioned to look into the feasibility of setting up such a holding, stated that the undertaking would be possible, recommending that beetroot farmers, together with sugar plant employees, be given the majority stakes once the holding was privatized. Supporters of realizing Polski Cukier greeted Pro Invest's report, which asserts it is viable financially, with enthusiasm. Among companies Pro Invest did not consider was Slaska Spolka Cukrowa, as it will likely to be sold to French sugar producer Saint Louis Sucre. The report also does not mention the price at which shares in the sugar plants would be offered to the farmers and workers. The decision whether or not to create the holding will ultimately be made by the treasury in mid-March.(Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 21) A.Z.