PAIH wraps up 2017 with significant FDI stock boost

As of the end of 2017 PAIH was supporting 175 FDI projects totalling EUR 5.65bn - by 30% more than a year before. The declared number of jobs also advanced by 1.000 and totalled 52.000. Comparable to 2016, the US and Germany are the major investors with 57 and 14 managing projects, respectively. In addition, most of the FDIs were BSS projects (54). Last 12 months were dominated by investors from Asia. China not only advanced to the TOP 5 largest investors regarding the number of projects, but it scored the highest when it comes to the total declared CAPEX. By the end of 2017 it totalled EUR 1.26bn, while a year before it was nearly two times smaller (approximately EUR 730m). - Chinese investors have started to specify their actions and intentions, therefore, I believe that this year we will manage to complete majority of the investment process - Krzysztof Senger, PAIH vice-president, stresses. In total, Asian entrepreneurs supported by the Agency are willing to carry out in Poland 42 FDI projects and spend EUR 2.5bn - which is nearly half of the portfolio.

What’s more, a 20% increase in FDI stock was reported regarding the completed projects - as of the end of 2017 they were valued EUR 2.08bn in total, EUR 300m less than a year before. In consequence of investors’ decisions made in 2017 over 17.000 people will find jobs in Poland (a thousand more than a year before). Majority of the projects will be carried out by companies based in the US (14) as well as in South Korea and Germany (six each). Switzerland (5), Italy and Japan (four each) also made into the top. Investors from South Korea are ready to spend the most - over EUR 1bn, the Japanese and The Austrian however, pledged CAPEX worth EUR 230m and 220m respectively. The largest investment, concerning value, completed by PAIH in 2017 was Korean LG Chem’s electric vehicle battery plant. Construction costs of the factory established in Kobierzyce (Lesser Silesia) amount to over EUR billion. The completion is scheduled in 2018. LG Chem is to hire 810 employees.  It is worth noting that it is the biggest, in terms of value, investment project supported by PAIH in the last 15 years. Another record-breaking investment in PAIH portfolio, concerning number of jobs, is JP Morgan’s corporate centre in Poland. One of the world’s largest financial institution is planning to create jobs for 2.500 people. In total, PAIH completed 61 BIZ projects in 2017.

Comparable to 2016, Lower Silesia (18), Masovian province (11), Lesser Poland (8) and Silesia (7) were among the regions where majority of FDI supported by PAIH were carried out. The fifth place went to Opole and Subcarpathian voivodships - four projects will be located in each province. - We don’t forget about the Eastern Poland. On contrary, the Strategy for Responsible Development includes a new, “smart” approach to the FDI location, which takes into account unemployment rate even in microscale. Therefore, we intensified our actions in 2017 to make more investors interested in engaging in such regions as Lublin, Podlaskie and Warmain-Masurian voivodships. This year we will make even more effort in this area - K. Senger assures.