FACTORY MODERNIZATION IN EASTERN-EUROPE

The majority of the sugar factories of Eastern Europe have until recen tly received little technical and financial assistance in the past 50 years, In many situations this is still the case. The application of t echnical 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. Th is potential will only be fully realised if a parallel agricultural pr ogramme is put into effect. Experience to date has shown that it is in itially effective from Western companies to provide advisory personnel to develop systems in conjunction with local management in order to o btain the maximum potential from the existing facilities. As the finan cial structures in the former Comecon countries become more attractive to Western investors, sugar factories in die region will be amongst t he potentially most profitable sectors. The technical assistance progr ammes currently being undertaken under the sponsorship of EEC and othe r Government cooperation form a sound basis for die subsequent develop ment of more technically advanced and profitable sugar industries in t he former Comecon Bloc. There is still considerable additional work to be undertaken in the investigative sector and complementary investmen t projects will inevitably follow as soon as financial conditions in t he country concerned are acceptable to interested parties.