COFIDES and FONPYME have awarded the Polish firm a joint venture loan for 1,750,000 euros to build and commission a new automotive component plant at Legnica, in southwestern Poland. PLÁSTICOS DÚREX POLSKA is the first foreign venture for the family-owned SME, PLÁSTICOS DÚREX, S.A. Headquartered at Salamanca, this firm specializes in plastic and rubber components for the automobile industry and, to a lesser extent, disposable plastic products for hospitals and laboratories. The company has a sizeable international business, presently exporting over 60% of its output. This project was undertaken primarily to respond to the company’s need for greater geographic proximity to its main customers, which have located in the same area, and to increase its present production capacity and ability to access new markets and customers. The new plant, which will employ local personnel only, will create 15 jobs.