Hold All
Ba³tycka Baza Masowa (Baltic Bulk Cargo Depot) is the youngest and one of the most dynamically developing companies within the port of Gdynia. In 2003, the company's revenue from the sales of services reached zl.13.2 million, up from zl.10.9 million in 2002.

Port Gdynia Holding SA and Zak³ady Azotowe Pu³awy SA established the company in 1997 in order to further the exportation of Polish chemical products, particularly fertilizers. In 1997-1999, two reloading/storage terminals were built, one for liquid bulk cargo the other for loose bulk cargo.

At the moment, Ba³tycka Baza Masowa provides a wide range of reloading/storage services, including a bonded warehouse. "In 2003, we handled more than 650,000 tonnes of cargo, up from 610,000 tonnes in 2002 and 425,000 tonnes two years earlier," said Janusz Kupcewicz-Szwoch, president of Ba³tycka Baza Masowa. The Ba³tycka Baza Masowa terminals are located in the oldest part of Port Gdynia. They feature modern concrete holding tanks for loose cargo and steel containers for liquid cargo. Loading and unloading are fully automatic and safe for the environment. Two slips and independent reloading lines enable the simultaneous handling of two ships with different cargo. Another specialist post permits the service of 12 tanker cars and four tank trucks at a time.


Secure Banking
The Internet services KartyOnline.pl and PRnews.pl, together with the Student Scientific Banking Circle of the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH), will hold a conference entitled Secure Banking at the school May 17-18.

The conference will examine various issues of banking security, with a special focus on payment cards. Key banking crimes and ways of counteracting them will be presented. More information at www.prnews.pl, www.kartyonline.pl, www.akson.sgh.waw.pl/sknb/


Bigger Airport in Bydgoszcz
A new airport terminal for up to 200,000 passengers a year has been opened in Bydgoszcz. The first passengers to check in at the new terminal were representatives of the region flying to Brussels to take part in events celebrating European Union enlargement.

According to airport management, it will not be used by the maximum number of passengers until 2008-2010. Last year 21,000 passengers traveled through the Bydgoszcz airport.


Air Berlin in Poland
The budget German airlines plan to launch a regular Warsaw-Vienna connection May 20. The promotion price of the cheapest ticket, including all additional fees, is 58 euros. Air Berlin plans to provide seven flights a week.


Italians in Lublin
Italian Metal and Mechanical Corporation (CAM) from Vincenza, associating smaller companies of the Veneto region, has opened its branch office in Lublin. Beside companies in the metal sector, CAM associates enterprises of the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors.

"The Italian companies are searching for cooperation partners or for bankrupt plants in which they could start production activity again," says Przemys³aw Gruba from the City of Lublin's Promotion Department. "The Italian partners are most interested in the mechanical and metal sectors, as well as in the electronic, agriculture and food, chemical and pharmaceutical trades."


Iraqi Contract-Take Two
The tender to armor the Iraqi army, in which the Polish PHZ Bumar armament consortium is taking part, is to be decided June 1. It is already the second tender for the supply of armaments to the Iraqi army.

The result of the first was canceled in the result of protests of a part of the bidders, including the Polish company. Bumar estimates the value of its offer at $558 million. The value of the offer of the Nour consortium, which won the first tender, was lower by over $200 million.


Who Will Take on Daewoo FSO?
"It is more than probable that a company other than Britain's MG Rover will invest in the Daewoo FSO factory," Jacek Piechota, deputy minister of the economy, told journalists May 5. Names of a few foreign corporations interested in investment in ¯erañ will be revealed at the end of May.

In late April, ¯erañ signed in Seoul a contract of key importance to the company, extending through the end of 2006 the rights to produce two Daewoo models in Poland-Lanos and Matiz. "Only from this moment on can we substantially talk about a partner for Daewoo FSO," Piechota said.


Schenker Counts on Integration
Schenker, one of the largest international logistics operators in Poland, plans to increase its 2004 sales revenue by more than 10 percent.

Schenker AG is part of the Stinnes corporation and one of the world's largest providers of logistics and forwarding services. In Poland, a second company-Spedpol-is also in operation as part of the Schenker AG group, alongside Schenker Sp. z o.o. In March, the two companies began to merge in a process that is scheduled to be completed in early 2005, according to announcements made by company executives. After it is completed, the merger of Schenker Sp. z o.o. with Spedpol will lead to the formation of Poland's largest logistics company.

In 2003, Schenker's revenue totaled zl.227 million, an increase of more than 30 percent over 2002. "For 2004, we plan a double-digit increase in sales revenue, and we are also determined to strengthen our market position in small-cargo forwarding by land and in sea transport," said Jacek Machocki, president of Schenker Sp. z o.o. In the following years, the company expects increased demand for logistics services as a result of Poland's integration with the European Union. "As early as 2004, but more likely in 2005, the number of shipments will grow due to increased commercial activities of the companies generated by EU accession," says Machocki.

Machocki noted that administrative procedures in international trade would be simplified after EU accession, leading to greater demand for logistics services.