FACTORY MODERNIZATION IN EASTERN-EUROPE

The majority of the sugar factories of Eastern Europe have until recently received little technical and financial assistance in the past 50 years, In many situations this is still the case. The application of technical assistance, with where appropriate injections of capital for new and more efficient equipment has great potential and will generate significant increases in sugar production at lower operating cost. This potential will only be fully realised if a parallel agricultural programme is put into effect. Experience to date has shown that it is initially effective from Western companies to provide advisory personnel to develop systems in conjunction with local management in order to obtain the maximum potential from the existing facilities. As the financial structures in the former Comecon countries become more attractive to Western investors, sugar factories in die region will be amongst the potentially most profitable sectors. The technical assistance programmes currently being undertaken under the sponsorship of EEC and other Government cooperation form a sound basis for die subsequent development of more technically advanced and profitable sugar industries in the former Comecon Bloc. There is still considerable additional work to be undertaken in the investigative sector and complementary investment projects will inevitably follow as soon as financial conditions in the country concerned are acceptable to interested parties.