Report suggests Poland will increase its role in the international service sector

According to a McKinsey&Company report, Poland has chances of receiving substantial foreign investments, as exporter of services. The authors of the report claim that the country could receive up to EUR 15 billion over five years, which could create 500,000 new jobs. Poland is already an important exporter of services and over $1.5 billion have been invested in this sector in the first half of 2003. The country could become a location for numerous R&D centers or aviation repairs and maintenance centers. According to the report, already 20 foreign companies exporting services operate in Poland. It is very likely that Brazilian aeroplane producer Embraer might soon decide to establish its European service center near Warsaw. German pharmaceutical and chemical concern Bayer AG is also considering locating its global accountancy center in Poland. "We are still looking around, but this country seems the most logical choice," said Professor Gottfried Plumpe, head of Bayer Business Services. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, B1) M.M.