USAID pulls out of Polish market after 10 years of service to entrepreneurs

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is leaving Poland after 10 years of operation. USAID help was concentrated mostly on support of small- and medium-sized businesses. The agency supported the Polish-American Enterprise Fund, which was providing loans and training for those who wanted to start a business. A total of $250 million was spent on the fund's loans and investments. USAID was also helping Polish Banks, during their privatization. In its 10 years the agency supported 400 projects, worth $1 billion. Twenty-eight thousand small and medium sized firms took advantage of its loans, 6,000 small company owners or future owners turned to USAID for legal help or consultations. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 2) A.D.