The French owners of Saint Gobain, one of the world's largest glass producers, hope to land annual deals of around 60 million euros for the float glass plant they are going to build in Calarasi. Through other units, Saint Gobain is also considering further investment projects aimed at the Romanian market, but Calarasi-based plant is currently the only concrete project, according to the group's officials.
"We project annual turnover of about 60 million euros for the plant in Calarasi, of which 30 million euros are supplies aimed at the Romanian market, while the rest will account for exports to other markets in the region," said Claude Alain Tardy, general manager with Saint Gobain Glass Europe. Late last week, Saint Gobain officially announced it would earmark more than 100 million euros for the construction of a float glass plant, which should become operational within two years.
The French giant's target is to obtain a market share of 40-50% of the domestic float glass market in 2006, which it now estimates to be worth about 100 million euros. Set to have a total productive capacity of 180,000 tonnes per year, the plant will change the structure of the glass market of Romania, 50% of which is made up of imports.
"In the first stage, the French will secure the plant's management, but our philosophy is to have a local management," says Tardy, adding that the unit will subsequently be managed by domestic personnel.
With regard to Saint Gobain's projects aimed at the Romanian market, the Danube harbour will play a strategic role. The French want to use the harbour at Calarasi to import constructions materials, but also to approach the Bulgarian and Greek markets.
Moreover, Saint Gobain is also analysing other investment projects based around other units, since the group's portfolio includes various activities - insulation materials; packaging; abrasives; ceramics and plastics; and the production and distribution of construction materials.
The plant will be sited near the Siderca Calarasi metallurgic complex, over an area of 24 hectares. "The number of employees will stand at about 200, but that of indirectly created jobs will be higher," specified Tardy. Calarasi county has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, standing at around 25%.
The French group already makes sales on the Romanian market, through eight companies, branches or offices.
adrian.mirsanu@zf.ro
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