Poland saw foreign direct investment (FDI) of US$ 2.53 bn in the first half of 2003 against US$ 3.2 bn a year earlier, with the full-year figure expected to sag below expectations and nearer to US$ 5 bn due to slow global investment trends, according to the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ).
The US$ 2.53 bn figure was the highest recorded by any Central European nation in the period and lifted the total invested from 1993 to June 30, 2003, to US$ 64.5 bn.
Currently 993 companies from 36 countries are included on PAIiIZ's "List of the Largest Foreign Investors in Poland," meaning the addition of 14 companies since the end of 2002. France continues to be top of the league, though the U.S. was ousted from the number two position by the Netherlands.
Over half of new foreign investment in Poland in the first six months came in the manufacturing sector. Another 26% fell to financial services and 11% went to the utilities sector.
