A Chinese consortium building a section of the A2 motorway between Warsaw and Lodz in central Poland has been boycotted by subcontractors.

The boycott was prompted by the fact that the Chinese have signed a contract to realise the project for 1.3 billion zloty. half the price of the normal fee.

The project, which comprises of a 50 km stretch of the A2 motorway, is the first European venture of the Dalekowschodnia (Far East) consortium. The group has considerable road-building experience in China, one of the fastest developing economies in the world.

However, Polish construction firms have turned down offers to cooperate with the Chinese consortium, fearing future competition in the field. Likewise, Dalekowschodnia has had problems purchasing cement.

The majority of the large construction firms building in Poland are Western concerns, and the coming of the Chinese has sparked panic about undercuts that could have far-reaching consequences to the market. (nh)

Source: Gazeta Prawna