Belarus has lost 25 million dollars.
Belarus has lost 25 million dollars.
IKEA, most likely, will put up this money in the Russian economy.
Improbable adventures of investors in Belarus proceed.
Known company IKEA is compelled to close the project in which it was planned
To enclose 25 million dollars. The reason of such decision became
Unwillingness of local officials to sign the agreement guaranteeing
Protection of investments.
The attracted armchair from shop IKEA the Minsk correspondent
"New News" several months ago has been compelled to drag
From Prague. Therefore me as ordinary consumer the information about
Volume, that the company namerena to open manufacture in Belarus, frankly
Has pleased. There was time and negotiations, but from a dead point business so
Also has not moved. And one of these days board of directors of the company and at all
Has made decision to refuse from acquisition of factory till the best times.
As the head of representation IKEA Trading S.A has told. In
Belarus Stefan Koletich, it is possible to consider as a project date started 30
May, 1998. Then this idea has met with approval at level
The regional authorities. Then the coordination has been spent with the higher
Instances. The forestry ministry has given guarantees on
15 years of granting of sites of wood for future maintenance
Factory raw materials.
IKEA and its branch concern Swedwood operated
Circumspectly and professionally. To protect investments,
They have decided to sign the corresponding contract with the government
The countries. The first variant of the frame agreement has been presented still
In the beginning of 2000. Since then purgatories also have begun, to describe
Which the limited newspaper area in full does not allow.
Two years officials invented all new and new delays, that
To delay contract signing. This document passed the numerous
Coordination and at, apparently, final stage it appeared,
That it is necessary to bring all new and new editings in it. Characteristic
Such case is also: the director of the enterprise, on a meeting with which
There have arrived investors, left for some minutes and... Has not returned.
At last, in February, 2002 vice-premier Andrey Kobjakov has informed,
That there are 7 conditions, at which performance the government
Is ready to sign the investment agreement immediately. IKEA
Has accepted all made demands, but... Sent in Sovmin documents
At first "were lost" for some months, and then have been found out,
But all the same remained without movement.
To any patience the end sometime comes. In the beginning of summer
The head of company Swedwood Bruno Uinborg has sent the letter
To the prime minister of Belarus Gennady Novitsky with the notice,
That, if the agreement will not be signed till August, 29th, the project
It is closed. The answer to this message has arrived... On August, 29th, and
Instead of concrete decisions in him it was offered to continue negotiations,
Lasting by that moment already almost four and a half a year. "This
The song is good, begin at first ". But board of directors IKEA has considered
Inexpedient to mill the wind further.
Among those who torpedoed the project, a special role the concern has played
"Bellesbumprom". He insisted, that Swedes invested money
Not where want, and where it will tell. In particular, in factories "п п п п п я п я п п©я п?п п ".
In exchange - the unprecedented generosity - IKEA was offered the whole 25 % of actions
The enterprises. Clearly, that similar conditions have appeared for the company
The unacceptable. It is necessary to notice, that it was not even in the long term
The competitor "Bellesbumproma". IKEA planned to redeem gone bankrupt
Factory in settlement Farinovo, and all made production to deliver
For export But concern and its allies in the government that is called,
Have laid down kostmi.
Obvious absurdity of an event has induced the director of department
Valery Drozda's Ministries of Economics on sharp enough statements
In interview to a weekly journal "the Belarus market":"We are convinced, that
The project was economic for Belarus from several positions.
However "Bellesbumprom" has not found common language with the investor. It
Wanted, that the investor here at all was not. In this situation
The most simple exit - to clean the competitor... In the country it is created
Direct opposition to foreign investments ".
It is difficult to disagree with last statement. A chain of scandals
- "Ford", "Baltic", "McDonald's", etc. - bright to volume acknowledgement.
In Belarus in general there is only one rather large investor
- "Gazprom". In other cases of an investment are limited, as
Rule, 1 - 2 million dollars. One of these days, by the way, it is filled up
One more large project: the Lebanese company "Cut Rose Grup"
Intended to invest 20 million dollars, to construct
Five-stars hotel (in Minsk in general any of hotels while
Has even "no three stars). But the sports ministry has told"no".
On the highest level it was repeatedly declared, that Belarus
namerena to involve foreign investments. But about what investments
To a national economy there can be a speech, if to firm with a world name,
Honesty satisfying all condition of the authorities without small five
Years, eventually have actually given up in guarantees of protection of the enclosed
Means? Officials categorically do not wish to incur the obligation
Even under projects obviously favourable to the state, if in those
Their personal interest is not provided.
Despite of everything, IKEA will continue the job in Belarus.
Swedes are assured, that this country has quite good investment prospects.
It is necessary to wait only. And 25 million dollars while will find to itself
Application in other place. Anyway corresponding negotiations
With Russian regions Swedwood (IKEA), predicting the probable
Failure at the given stage of the project in Belarus, conducts already from the beginning
Current year.
Alexander STARIKEVICH.
Minsk.
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//* an information Source: New News, 11.09.02
//* Reg. Nom. - 1120900138.36-------------------------------------------