THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS IN POLAND ARE IN THE ENERGY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTORS, ANDRZEJ OLECHOWSKI, PRESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN TRUST, THE LARGEST STRATEGIC AND FINANCIAL CONSULTING FIRM SPECIALIZING IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE, SAID AT A SEMINAR ON NOV. 13 IN ATLANTA.
MR. OLECHOWSKI IS A FORMER MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF FINANCE, AND NOW SERVES AS AN ECONOMIC ADVISOR TO POLAND’S PRESIDENT, ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI.
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ENERGY SECTOR WILL ATTRACT THE LARGEST COMPANIES, WHILE THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR, WHICH IS SLATED TO BE PRIVATIZED NEXT YEAR, WILL ALSO ATTRACT SMALL- TO MEDIUM-SIZED FIRMS, HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, HE POINTED TO THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR, ESPECIALLY RETAIL BANKING, SAYING THAT IT WOULD ATTRACT BOTH LARGE AND SMALL COMPANIES.
MR. OLECHOWSKI SAID THAT POLAND IS POISED TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU), AND UNDERLINED THE SWING WESTWARD OF POLISH TRADE. IN 1987 35% OF POLAND’S TRADE WAS WITH THE WEST, HE SAID, WHILE BY THE END OF 1995 THAT NUMBER HAD GROWN TO 75%.
U.S. SEN. PAUL COVERDELL, R-GA., SAID AT THE SEMINAR THAT THE U.S. SHOULD BRING “EVERY PRESSURE WE CAN” TO HAVE POLAND ADMITTED TO THE EU. HE ALSO SUPPORTED POLAND’S ENTRY IN NATO, PREDICTING THAT IT WOULD BE ADMITTED IN 1999 DURING THE ORGANIZATION’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
THE SEMINAR WAS CO-HOSTED BY THE POLISH AMERICAN CHAMBER OF THE SOUTHEAST, U.S. AND THE GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL JANUSZ R. MROZEK AT (404) 894-0353; FAX, (404) 894-1890.