In 2014 food industry has been added to the list of top priority sectors of Polish economy. “The sector generates 13% of Polish GDP”, said PAIiIZ president Sławomir Majman during the meeting. “The total value of food industry investments reaches €9,5bn. Due to food investments in Poland 6,000 new jobs were created while 750 new ones can appear in 2015”, he added.

The opportunities of food sector development discussed by representatives of PAIiIZ and Ministry of Economy

Trends, analysis and economic correlation between food industry and Polish economy were presented by Michał Koleśnikow from BGŻ. The scale of investment in the sector dependents on economic situation in the country and the public aid. Good results of the food sector are caused by increasing export competitiveness of Polish companies. During last 10 year, Polish exports of food products have grown 5-fold, or 16% a year, while the increase in sales in the domestic market has doubled. Koleśnikow also argued that the crisis helps Polish food industry to grow due to a weaken PLN and growing interest of costumers in EU in cheaper food help to develop the sector. “In 2015 the food industry exports will continue to grow, despite the embargo imposed on some food products” he predicts. Among factors that make food industry completive, Ferrero CEO, Cezary Więcław mentioned: workforce, innovativeness, fast investment decisions and flexibility in production.

Deputy minister Antoniszyn-Klik: "Polish companies entering global market should cooperate with each other to reduce both: costs and the risk"

However, still there are areas that need to be improved. As speakers pointed, primarily is the access to information, both about the European and distant markets such as Saudi Arabia, China, and North Africa. Also the concentration of the industry, which means creating groups or organizations, supporting economic diplomacy by changing the operation of the Trade and Investment Promotion Sections of Polish Embassies, and increasing finance in support exports is important.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140112/food_industry_the_engine_of_polish_economy_growth. (PAIiIZ)

Panel discussion on Trends and challenges

“India is a promising market for Polish business due to its market capacity, dynamics and development potential. Poland can offer Indian companies cooperation regarding ICT and shared services sector”, added PAIiIZ deputy president Anna Polak-Kocińska. Under the mission, Polish delegation paid a visit to representatives of the Government of India in Ahmedabad including minister of food processing, Ms Harsimrat Kaur Badal; Gujarat minister of agriculture Shri Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundariya; minister of steel and mines, Narendra Singh Tomar.

During the visit to India, Polish delegation participated in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. The meeting is the most important event in India for the promotion of investment opportunities in the state of Gujarat. 18 national delegations attended in this year's edition of the summit. Among the VIP guests there were: US Secretary of State John Kerry, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon and president of the World Bank Jim Yong Kim.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20150113/government_delegation_in_india. (PAIiIZ / MG / MFA)

“Warsaw will be a true centre of the company. Every MoneyGram functions will be represented here”, argued Alex Holmes. The centre will provide services to company’s clients all over the world. Money Gram has already started the recruitment process. Among the group of 500 employees there will be highly experienced specialists and graduates. 1/5 of global staff of the company will be located in Poland”, Holmes added.

Grand oppening of MoneyGram investment with Monika Piątkowska, Alex Holmes and Stephen Mull

“Choosing Warsaw is fundamental for us. Warsaw offers talented workforce and strong financial sector. There is no better place. In Poland we also found business-friendly and vibrant economy. We are excited to be part of this community”, said CFO/COO of MoneyGram. From the very first moment of the investment decision making PAIiIZ was assisting the investor. “It took only one year since the investor have came to PAIiIZ to ask about possible investment locations to the grand opening of MoneyGram Business Center in Warsaw that we are celebrating today”, added Monika Piąrkowska. Among the other possible location Belfast in Northern Ireland was also considered.

MoneyGram represents one of the most sophisticated sectors present in the Polish economy. “Currently, PAIiIZ provided 160 investment projects, 60 of them represent highly advanced business service sector”. Due to projects of such kind even 20,000 new jobs in the sector can be created”, said PAIiIZ deputy president Monika Piątkowska.

Alex Holmes: “Choosing Warsaw is fundamental for us. We have been warmly received in Poland”

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20150114/moneygram_makes_warsaw_global_center_of_operations.

In terms of country of investors' origin, the US is a leader among investment projects. The total value of 52 American investments is €999,61m (7,152 new jobs planned). German investors are the second (21 FDI; total value of €300,85m; 3,913 new jobs). France is the third on the list of the countries with the biggest number of investments supported by PAIiIZ (11 FDI projects, worth €210,7m, 2369 new jobs). Following positions have been taken by investors from Japan (9 projects) and Italy (7 projects).

From the sectoral point of view, automotive and BPO are the most popular in Poland. The Agency runs 34 investment projects each. Automotive sector are worth €652,25m (6,650 new jobs) in total while all ongoing projects from business process outsourcing have a value of €29,95m and can deliver 9,960 new jobs to Poland. Among others most popular sectors there are: R&D (18 projects worth €58,84m, 1,954 new jobs), electronics and aviation (10 projects each) and wood sector (9 investment projects). (PAIiIZ)

It is worth mentioning that Kraków is the only one representative of destination out-side Asia among the list of the Tolons “best 10” with Bangalore in India at the top. The report also includes two other leading Polish outsourcing destination: Warsaw that was ranked 30th in the world and improved by 2 positions y/y and Wrocław, ranked as 62th (the improvement by 3 places y/y).

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In 2014, PAIiIZ supported 26 outsourcing projects provided by foreign companies, 19 of them were represented by BPO/BSS (total value €13,5 m; planned employment 3,594); 6 from R&D (€7,34 m, planned employment 523) and 1 project from ICT. (PAIiIZ/Tholons)

In January-November 2014, exports to developed countries increased by 7.2% to €126.2 bn and imports by 4.1% (to €99.5 bn). Exports to the EU increased by 7.5% to €116 bn. Among the major EU countries, the fastest increase in sales was recorded in: Latvia (25.2%), Spain (approx. 21.3%) and Finland (16.6%). Relatively fast rate of the increased in exports was noticed by Poland’s main trading partner - Germany (by 8.7%). Among other developed markets, where exports rose by 3.5%, one of the most dynamic increases in sales was recorded by Australia (32.9%), Canada (26%) and South Africa (10.7%). On the other hand, a decline in exports was noticed among emerging markets and less developed countries, where the sale of Polish goods fell by 6% Energy.

Exports of goods to other emerging markets - outside the CIS, grew by 6.7% (to nearly €12.4 bn). Dynamic growth in sales was recorded in: Algeria (almost by 2-fold), the United Arab Emirates (by 44.6%), Saudi Arabia (by 39.3%), India (by 8.5%) and China (by 8.4%). (Ministry of Economy/CSO)

Clusters should be defined as a key instrument for increasing innovation of the national economy and regional economies. Therefore, they should be the subject of national and regional innovation strategies and operational programs, comment author of the report. Clusters should also be treated as a valuable factor of building social capital in Poland, they add. Almost 58% of the surveyed enterprises over the past two years have implemented innovations. For about 40% of them, cluster have proved to be helpful in introducing innovations, however, the significant impact of cluster to the implementation of innovation was recorded only by about 8% of surveyed companies. Data show that only the most innovative companies are interested in greater involvement in cluster structure.

The survey also shows that activities established in clusters as well as the dynamics of the cluster development are shaped mostly by micro and small enterprises (their share in the clusters reaches impressive 76.3%).

As the experts argue, one of the key findings of the report, is a 7%- growth of employment recorded among companies associated in clusters during the past two years. It proves that clusters are characterized by high competitiveness and expansiveness. (PARP)

This is one of the firsts project of its kind established in Poland, however, such founds are a very popular instrument in supporting start-ups globally. This solution allows investing through non-public asset closed-end investment funds (CVC). The found has been designed to operate for the next nine years while the four years. (BGK)

The DEC is a development initiative of Polish companies in movies, art, video games and other digital entertainment areas. It bringing together the game developers and their collaborators, creating favorable conditions for new video games related investments in southern Poland, enhancing cooperation between the industry and scientific institutions and promoting the gaming industry in Poland and abroad. The Cluster has been developing international relations cooperating with various accelerators, incubators, training programmers and funds to define best practices of supporting regional game industry. (KTP)

Under the Programme over €4,4bn will be dedicated to projects increasing the employment among young people and their adjustment to the employment market. The biggest amount will wait for all activities regarding the improvement of students’ knowledge.

© Jeff Metzger - Fotolia.com