Increased industrial building activity helped two of Slovakia's largest construction firms up their business by more than a quarter from the first half of 1995 to the same period this year. Žilina-based Váhostav saw total revenues of 2.1 billion Sk [$70 million] during the first half of this year, 27 percent higher than the same period last year. The major projects that helped it earn 1.87 billion Sk [$62.3 million] were the Vodné dielo dam outside Žilina, the VÚB tower in Bratislava, and the Vodná elektráreň power project in the Čuňovo section of Bratislava.
That success was mirrored by Hydrostav Bratislava, which also completed projects worth 27 percent more than their work in the first six months of last year. The 1.742 billion Sk value of Hydrostav's projects make up 53.6 percent of the firm's expected volume for the entire year. The biggest sources of their pre-tax profit of 95 million Sk were a gas pipeline for Slovenský Plynárenský Priemysel and the Mochovce nuclear power plant, Národná obroda reported.
Although the government has stepped up infrastructure improvements, the increase in construction business is mostly attributable to private sector spending on big indutrial projects, according to Anton Gajdošík, Váhostav's assistant technical-trade director. "We're even trying to increase production," he said. "We expect this trend to stay like this and to rise a little."
Author: Compiled by Rick Zedník
