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NEWSLETTER July 9th, 2009, Number 130 | |||||||||||
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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS
INVESTMENTS IN POLAND
FROM THE REGIONS
ANALYSES AND REPORTS
DID YOU KNOW...?
FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, We recommend to read an account of a Korean exhibition and economic forum in Poland attended this week by PAIiIZ. In this issue we also write about a panel concerning foreign investment which will take place on the second day of Krynica Economic Forum in September 2009. The panel will be run by the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency in co-operation with the Czech and Hungarian investment agencies. Moreover, we inform about a new investment project to be located in Siedlce, about new research and infrastructure projects in Mazowsze to be co-funded from EU funds and about the Mazury Lake District's success in the New7Wonders of Nature ranking. Pleasant reading! PAIiIZ’s editorial team NEWS Korean exhibition and economic forum in Poland On July 7th, 2009 the Warsaw Palace of Culture and Science hosted an exhibition “Korean Product Show 2009”. The event was attended by the Korean Ambassador to Poland - Mr Joon-jan Lee, the President of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Mr Sohn Kyung-shik, the Under- Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economy - Mr Dariusz Bogdan and the PAIiIZ President - Mr Sławomir Majman.
The “Korean Trade Product Show” is the biggest Korean fair in Europe. This year the event, which hosted over 60 Korean producers, was organized by Korea Trade- Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and will be open by July 9th, 2009.
This year Poland and Korea celebrate the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic co-operation between the countries.That is why the Polish-Korean Economic Forum was organized. The event was opened by Andrzej Arendarski, President of the Polish Chamber of Commerce and by Kyung-shik Sohn, President of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Participants, including a number of Korean investors’ representatives, could see a presentation of investment climate in Poland and the spectrum of economic co-operation possibilities open to the countries, especially in the sector of renewable energy and in industry. Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea and the meeting's guest of honour claimed in his speech that South Korea wants to co-operate with Poland in the construction of a nuclear power station and a LNG gas terminal. The President emphasized that in the last 30 years Korea constructed and has been safely exploiting over 20 power stations and plans to build new ones. Lee Myung-bak added also that Korean construction companies are eager to participate in Polsih infrastructure development connected with the European Football Championships in 2012. The President described Poland as one of the most financially stable countries in the EU and emphasised that lso Korea is estimated to be one of the best crisis tackling OECD member states in the world. The Forum saw several agreements concerning economic co-operation signed. One of the understandings was signed by the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) represented by the President Kim Dong-Soo and the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency. While the second agreement involved KEXIM and Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, the third was signed by the Korea Export Insurance Corporation and the Korporacja Ubezpieczeń Kredytów Eksportowych (KUKE). (PAIiIZ, PAP) Investment panel on the XIX Krynica Economic Forum The XIX Krynica Economic Forum will be held from September 9th to 12th, 2009 in Krynica Zdrój. This year’s edition of the most important event gathering politicians, businessmen, scientists and journalists from European countries and especially from the CCE region, will include an investment panel concerning FDI acquisition.
The aim of the Forum is to create a friendly atmosphere and favourable conditions for co-operation development in the region of Central and Eastern Europe. “European Solidarity - 20 years after revolution” is this year’s motto. The Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ) under the patronage of the Foundation Institute for Eastern Studies organizes a discussion panel “Investment acquisition in the times of crisis - CEE’s competitiveness” which is to take place on the second day of the Forum. The discussion will aim to present investment climate in the region of Central and Eastern Europe and the region’s potential of investment acquisition in the field of the so called new wave sectors. The panel will also attempt to compare investment attractiveness of the region with the emerging markets in Asia (India, China). PAIiIZ invited representatives of the Czech and Hungarian investment agencies to take part in the discussion. For more information visit www.forum-ekonomiczne.pl. Preliminary panel schedule is available at www.paiz.gov.pl (PAIiIZ) 270 mln PLN for a New Technology Centre of the University of Warsaw The University of Warsaw will get 270 mln PLN from European Funds to construct an academic-research New Technology Centre. An agreement concerning the funds was signed on July 8th, 2009.
- “Today is an exceptionally important day for the Polish science because we know that a new centre will be built. A centre which thanks to a new academic-research infrastructure and new technologies will enable students, PhD students and scientists to use the most modern infrastructure. They will now be able to work in good and modern conditions” - said Barbara Kudrycka, Minister of Science and Higher Education. The Minister emphasized that nowadays scientific achievements depend to a large extent on the access to modern research infrastructure. The UW New Technology Centre (CeNT) will create such possibilities. The Centre will be situated in campus “Ochota” and will comprise of three buildings with laboratories and lecture halls for students of biology, chemistry, biotechnology, informatics and environment protection. One of the buildings will host the Institute of Physics where adequate infrastructure for research in the field will be installed. CeNT will be geared towards interdisciplinary research and activities which will strictly be connected with the economy’s needs. Students' skills and knowledge are supposed to be created in a way that should best help develop new medicine and vaccine technologies, industry process modelling, new materials synthesis and innovative apparatus. The signed agreement concerns a subsidy to the tune of 270 mln PLN from the Operational Programme “Infrastructure and Environment”. In an interview with PAP Ms Katarzyna Chałasińska-Macukow, Rector of the University of Warsaw said that the Centre would be constructed with the use of the world’s best standards and will pattern the best world examples in the field e.g. the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA, Harvard University, the University in Heidelberg or the Technology University in Munich. (PAP) Go to top... 
INVESTMENTS IN POLAND Portuguese Carfi to build a factory in Siedlce The Tarnobrzeg SEZ issued a business activity permission for a Portuguese Carfi to start an investment in the Siedlce-based sub zone. The factory will process plastic materials.
The venture assumes construction of a production plant processing plastic materials for the needs of household and TV appliances sector. The project involves development of a 2,5ha lot which the company plans to buy form the Zone. The investment, worth 4 mln PLN, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Carfi declares to create 70 new workplaces. (Wnp.pl, Tarnobrzeg SSE) MACROECONOMIC POLAND
Source: www.nbp.pl FROM THE REGIONS The Gdańsk Science - Technology Park (GNP-T) Last year saw an agreement concerning financial support in the frame of Operational Programme Innovative Economy 2007-2013 measure 5.3 signed by the Pomorze Special Economic Zone and the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP). The subsidy is bound to exceed 80 mln PLN.
The aim of the project is to complete the development and overhaul 3 industrial facilities formerly owned by Gdańskie Zakłady Graficzne and adapt them for the needs of the Park. There are plans to build two new facilities with office and production space (38,000 sq m). The facilities will be connected to the already existing GPN-T building. Thanks to the investment the Park will become a modern business and industry complex. The Park’s extension and R&D infrastructure development, creates a chance for further development of investments located in the Pomorze Special Economic Zone and for scientific co-operation with Polish and foreign research institutions what may help the investors continue their activity in Poland. The Park's development will also make it possible to create a support system for innovations which is to be based on net connections and synergy of a number of entities operating in the field of advanced technologies. The project is expected to be completed by August 2011. (Pomorze SEZ)
Mazowsze Rail to get 200 mln PLN in EU subsidies Round 200 mln PLN from European Funds was granted to Mazowsze Rail (KM). The subsidy will be spent on modernisation of over 150 electric trains and the acquisition of 11 locomotives for double-decker trains.
Authorities of the region of Mazowsze signed two pre-agreements with Mazowsze Rail (KM) to co-fund the investment. The overall cost of the investment hovers at around 400 mln PLN. The European subsidy covers over 193 mln PLN. - The pre-agreements officially confirm the initiation of the project by Mazowsze Rail which will be realised in the frame of the Regional Operational Programme for Mazowsze for the years 2007-2013 - Adam Struzik, Mazowsze Voivod told the Polish Press Agency. The first agreement enables KM to modernize 150 electric trains of the key rolling stock by the end of 2011. The first stage of the project is estimated to cost 204 mln PLN. 50 % of the costs will be covered by EU funds. (PAP) Mazury Lake District classifies 1st in the ranking of New7Wonders of Nature Thanks to the promotional activities initiated by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, the Polish Tourist Organization, marshall offices in Warmia, Mazowsze and Podlasie and the media, the Mazury Lake District went up to the very top of its category in the ranking of New7Wonders of Nature.
The Białowieża Forest (put forward together with Belarus) classified 5th in the ranking. Due to the fact that the Białowieża Forest and the Mazury Lake District have been qualified in different categories, it is possible to vote for the two candidacies. Voting via Internet ended on July 7th. After the first voting stage 77 candidacies (11 in each category) will be short-listed. New7Wonders of Nature Panel of Experts will advise on the choice of the 28 Official Finalists, to be announced on 21 July 2009 at 7 minutes past midday GMT - and on that day voting resumes in the Official New7Wonders of Nature, as chosen by over 1 billion votes and to be revealed in 2011. (Ministry of Sport and Tourism) ANALYSES AND REPORTS BIEC: seasonal revival on labour market June saw the Labour Market Rate (WRP) rise and in advance show seasonal drop in unemployment. Beside the seasonal revival, general situation on labour market is rather bleak. Unemployment is expected to rise in the second half of the year - informed the Bureau for Investment and Economic Cycles (BIEC) in its monthly report.
Several of the major factors shaping the rate have slightly improved what resulted in the weakening of the unfavourable tendencies. Low pace of production growth limits workforce demand - says the research commentary. The slight drop in unemployment recorder in May (10.8%) in comparison to April this year (11%) BIEC attributes to seasonal factors which usually revive the labour market. “The spring-summer season somehow stimulates the labour market. The revival, however, will not manage to offset effects of the economic slowdown” - says the report. Attention was paid also to the fact that employment rates in production factories have been improving for the second consecutive month what does not only result from seasonal revival. In May social mood rates accounted for 29 points against 39 points recorded in March this year. In May employment rose mainly in the construction sector and in enterprises operating in water and waste management sector. BIEC’s analysts claim the coming month may see employment rise in big trade companies active in retail and some service providers, above all in health care, telecommunications, informatics and publishing. BIEC estimates that despite the job cutting rate starts to stabilize there is still some time needed to see employment rise. (PAP) DID YOU KNOW...? Vaclav Havel opts for Gdańsk The legendary Czech opposition leader, writer and playwright and, above all, the first President of the Czech Republic supports Gdańsk in the fight for the title of the European Capital of Culture 2016.
Havel's decision to back up Gdańsk and his explanation of the choice was confirmed in a letter sent by the former Czech President to the Gdańsk European Capital of Culture 2016 Office. The letter says, among other things: - “As a total landlubber I am often fascinated by everything what in any way relates to sea, ships or harbours. Gdańsk for me is one of such places - a city of great past, an important witness of contemporary Polish history where the Solidarity movement was born, a city of beautiful architecture and picturesque little streets. I do have a number of reasons that make me support the candidacy of Gdańsk” (Gdańsk City Council) 
Editorial office: Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, 00-585 Warsaw, Bagatela Street 12 Economic Promotion Department, tel: (+48 22) 334 98 15, fax: (+48 22) 334 99 99, e-mail: redakcja@paiz.gov.pl | |||||||||||
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