Toyota announces major diesel plant for Walbrzych

Representatives of Japanese automotive concern Toyota have officially announced the construction of a diesel car engine factory in the Walbrzych Special Economic Zone. "The plant will cost around euro 170 million to build and when opened in 2005 should produce 120,000 engines per year. This project will be our largest car diesel engine plant in Europe," said Tokuichi Uranishi, the managing director of Toyota Motor Corporation. However, he added that demand for diesel engines should increase which would mean production at the plant should jump to between 180,000-300,000 over the succeeding years. According to Economy Minister Jacek Piechota, Toyota will invest over euro 500 million in Poland over the next few years. "We have signed a general agreement concerning state aid for the company. Detailed decisions will be made later," he said. About 1,400 jobs will be created in the new factory. (Prawo i Gospodarka, pp. 1, 12; Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 8) M.M.