Despite the fact that in 2013 European economy has just returned to growth, the number of new FDI projects has increased by 4% year on year. Poland and Germany were the most attractive locations in their parts of the continent. 31% of investors describe Poland as the best in CEE region. The country scored about 20% votes more than the Czech Republic, located on the second position. Next there were: Romania, Hungary, Ukraine and Turkey. On the other hand, according to 40% of respondents, Germany was the best in the Western Europe region in attracting investments. Thus Poland and Germany together they can be called as the “central European investment magnet”.

Speakers during the presentation of EY’s European Attractiveness Survey

In 2013, Poland attracted 107 new investments and reached the 10th position in Europe in terms of the number of new projects, decreasing by 3 positions year on year. However, in terms of creating new jobs, Poland maintained the 3rd position, after the UK, and France. It is worth noting that Poland was the first in the EU and the second in the whole Europe - after Serbia - in terms of new jobs created thanks to FDI. The average foreign investment in Poland delivered about 130 new jobs.

As far as the attractiveness of the various regions of the world, for the first time Western Europe overtook China reaching 45% votes. It means that since the economic collapse in 2012, the West improved by 12%. The third place went to South America (31% of votes) and Central Eastern Europe was the next. (PAIiIZ)

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140527/poland_germany-central_investment_magnet. (PAIiIZ/EY)

During the conference, companies from machinery, mining and energy sectors that represented the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery & Electronic Products (CCCME) were introduced with the investment opportunities and the most attractive areas of cooperation offered by Poland.

The ceremony of signing a cooperation agreement

On 26 May, the Zhejiang (China)-Poland Matchmaking Forum began with signing the memorandum of understanding between PAIiIZ and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Zhejiang Provincial Committee (CCPIT Zhejiang Provincial Committee). The even gathered nearly 100 Chinese companies. During the event, China's Ambassador in Poland, Xu Jian stressed the fact that Poland is popular particularly among enterprising residents of Zhejiang Province. About 60% of the Chinese living in Poland come from Zhejiang. After the official part of the forum individual business meetings of Polish and Chinese companies were held. (PAIiIZ)

"Stability, people and openness are the main reasons to establish economic relations between the two countries", argues PAIiIZ president Sławomir Majman

More information:

• www.paiz.gov.pl/20140526/more_chinese_investments_in_poland
• www.paiz.gov.pl/20140527/poland_and_zhejinag_getting_closer_to_each_other

Currently, PAIiIZ supports 40 investment projects from the US. Next are German investors with 29 projects. There are also 10 projects from the UK, 9 from France and Japan each and 6 from China, India, Sweden and South Korea each.

In terms of sectors, the majority of projects supported by PAIiIZ come from BPO (33 projects, total). The leader is followed by automotive (30 projects), R&D (11 projects), aviation (10 projects), electronic and wood (8 projects each) sectors.

Since the beginning of the 2014, the Agency has successfully completed 18 investments, worth € 1,544.44 m in total. Those investment projects should bring 4,933 new jobs.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140523/new_projects_in_paiiiz_portfolio. (PAIiIZ)

Mango’s newest investment is one of the largest automotive plants in Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone. This is also the first European manufacturing facility of Mando Corporation in Europe. The investment project includes building production facilities, warehouses, social facilities and infrastructure. Before choosing Poland, the company had also considered locating its plant in Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Opening ceremony of the Mando's new factory (source: WSSE ''Invest-Park'')

Mango’s investment project has been supported by PAIiIZ since 2006.

More information: http://www.paiz.gov.pl/20140523/poland-the_automotive_hub. (PAIiIZ)

Last year, companies invested more than PLN 7.3 billion in SEZs. During this period 253 permits to operate under the Special Economic Zones programme were issued. That is nearly 15% of all valid permits issued since the programme was established. Katowice SEZ, Wałbrzych SEZ and Łódź SEZ have the biggest share in the accumulated value of investments. The highest investment growth was recorded in Legnica SEZ. Most of the projects implemented under the programme were established by companies with Polish German and American capital.

The total number of jobs in the areas increased in 2013 by more than 19,200. The majority of new jobs are created in Wałbrzych SEZ (over 3000), Mielec SEZ (over 2,500) And Kostrzyn-Słubice SEZ (over 1,600). (Ministry of Economy)

13 new investments representing chemical industry, electronics and furniture sector are planned in Kraków SEZ. Their total value has been estimated at PLN 1.5 billion. They should also deliver 718 new jobs.

Łódź SEZ is expecting five new investment projects that together are worth PLN 237m. Due to that 561 already existing jobs will be maintained. Moreover, 590 new ones will be created. Two of the investments will be carried out in Łódź: Barry Callebaut Manufacturing Polska plans to expand its plant producing cocoa products and chocolate. Under the second project IMA Solutions producing dietary supplements, dietetic foods and pharmaceuticals will modernise its factory. Also De Heus producing premixes and Nordkalk, the producer of limestone-based products will expand their business in ŁSEZ. In Radomsk a plant specialising in the production of structural glass, laminated and heat-treated single glazing will be built.

On the other hand, in Wałbrzych SEZ two projects worth in total nearly PLN 190m will be introduced. Together they will deliver 90 new jobs. One of them is made by Gestami Polska. The company will focus on the expansion of the existing plant by introducing additional producing lines. (Ministry of Economy)

Aliplast Extrusion that belongs to the Corialis International Group will invest PLN 36m for the purchase of a production line of aluminum profiles used in the automotive industry and railways. The investment will let to increase of employment by at least 30 employees.

Aesculap Chifa will invest PLN 20m in the construction of a plant and a modern administration facility. The company will employ at least 200 people.

Cyfrowa Foto that operates in printing business will invest PLN 12.1m. The company plans to purchase a plot, build a manufacturing facility and supply it with specialised machinery to start a production of photobooks and other printed products. Due to this investment, 50 people will be hired. (ARP)

Under Kamiennagóra SEZ the company will modernise production facilities and the machinery. The investor will also buy measuring equipment for its quality laboratory to start the production of fuel system components. ("Mo-Me" Multimedia)

The project includes purchasing the land and the construction of a production hall where windows, doors and shutters made of PVC and aluminium will be produced. Entrepreneur also plans to establish the cooperation with technical schools in the region. (LSEZ)

The event will gather 250 participants including representatives of business, science, media and top European politicians as the former European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, Günter Verheugen and former president of the European Parliament.

This year, the participants of the forum will look at the issues related to smart specialization (including sectors with the biggest development potential), internationalization of enterprises, the possibility of opening the Eastern Poland macro-region to economic cooperation with Europe and the whole world. Creation of a positive economic climate in Eastern Poland by strengthening the specific characteristics and advantages of the macro-region is the main aim of the Forum.

More information: www.epbf2014.eu. (PAIiIZ)

Establishing the laboratory of industrial robotics is an opportunity for the development of entrepreneurship in Słupsk region. Pomeranian Agency of Development invites to the meeting that will be held under the patronage of the governor of Pomorskie province.

More information: www.sse.slupsk.pl/index.php/pl/homepage-mainmenu/events-pl/632-otwarcie-pracowni. (Słupsk SEZ)

The official visit of the king will be accompanied by a business delegation representing energy, agriculture, logistic and water management sectors. After the plenary session B2B meetings between Polish and Dutch entrepreneurs will be held.

The Forum is organised by Ministry of Economy, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Nederlands and PAIiIZ. Soon you will receive detailed information regarding the agenda and registration. (PAIiIZ/Embassy of the Kingdom of Nederlands)

Developers employed by EPAM in Poland will create and develop “Big Data” technologies for customers in the USA, Canada and the Western Europe. Until the end of 2014 the company plans to employ over 100 people, while in the long-term period over 500 people should work for EPAM in Poland.

The list of EPAM's clients include: Thomson Reuters, UBS, Microsoft, Oracle, Expedia, Coca-Cola, SAP and Barclays Capital. EPAM investment is in line with the Pomeranian province strategy to attract IT companies. (Invest in Pomerania)

“Take a look at Poland. See how much we have achieved and what more we can give Europe” - encourages the authors of the campaign, which will cover the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and will last until the end of November 2014. The campaign has been designed to show that Polish energy drives positive change in Europe. It also presents the scale of the changes in Poland during the recent 25 years.

The claim “Poland. Spring into” was inspired by the idea “creative tension” created by Wally Olins, one of the world’s leading branding specialist who had worked on the Poland’s promotion strategy. The world “spring” has a double meaning and refers not only to the most joyful time of the year but also to freshness, energy and power.

The promotional activities include broadcasting a TV spot in top televisions in Europe: BBC, CNN, Eurosport and Sky News. Social media activities, outdoor campaigns and vast range of actions in public space referring mainly to the 4th June - the anniversary of the election that is a symbolic date of the collapse of the communistic regime in Poland, will be also arranged.

The campaign is organized under recently established by the Council for the Promotion of Poland “Communication Principles of >>the Poland << Brand. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)