Polish investors are interested in setting up production facilities in at least 10 regions of Russia, a Polish Embassy official said on Thursday.
It is far more profitable to manufacture goods for the Russian market on Russian territory than import them from Poland, Andrzej Zygmunt, first secretary of the Polish Embassy in Russia, said during a meeting with Smolensk First Deputy Mayor Sergei Maslakov.
The level of accumulated Polish investments in Russia is rather low at present, a mere $600 million, but "Polish business activity in your country is growing every year," Zygmunt said.
"Last year, the Polish Embassy received 3,000 applications from Polish businessmen wishing to set up operations in different parts of Russia," he said.
Moscow and the region surrounding it account for about 50% of Polish imports while the Smolensk region gets only 1%.
"Polish businessmen realize that not all goods should be brought to Moscow," Zygmunt said, adding that contacts have been established with the Kemerovo, Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk and other regions.
SMOLENSK, March 10 (RIA Novosti)
