Woes and debts of chemical sector seem set to continue

Nafta Polska (NP) and other companies from the chemical industry are e xpressing concern about the government's delay in planning the sectors restructuring strategy. Until a strategy is officially accepted, chemical companies have no chance of quickly getting rid of their debts and receiving public aid offered by the Industrial Development Agency (ARP). After joining the EU, all decisions concerning such aid will be made by the EU, and the Union's longer procedures and tougher requirements do not work in the sectors favor, which has liabilities of zł. 2.3 billion. A restructuring strategy was prepared by NP in conjunction with chemical companies and presented to the State Treasury back in February. However, since then nothing more has been heard about it. There have been reports that the plan was lost. Numerous attempts by Puls Biznesu reporters to find out where the document actually is have not been successful. The State Treasury claims it sent it to the Prime Minister's Office, where officials say they never received it. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 4) A.K.