China has rediscover the Central and Easter Europe after a several years of the region’s transformation. In 2012, during the official visit of former Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao in Poland, a "Warsaw Initiative" initiative was introduced that established the basis of cooperation between China and 16 European countries. Poland is the largest European country participating in this project. “The Chinese should notice a difference between sixteen countries in terms of economic assets”, said PAIiIZ president Sławomir Majman during a meeting with Polish journalists that preceded the series of incoming Polish - Chinese business events.

“There is a place for Chinese capital in Poland in the automotive industry and in the food sector”, said Sławomir Majman

The first one - a matchmaking meeting - will be arranged on 26 May in PAIiIZ with the participation of companies representing machinery, mining, engineering and energy sectors from both countries. On 27 May, Hilton Hotel in Warsaw will hold Zhejiang - Poland Matchmaking Forum. The event is organised on the occasion of the official visit in Poland of the delegation from Zhejiang Province lead by the governor of Zhejiang Province, Li Qiang. Poland and the Czech Republic are the only members of the “Warsaw Initiative” that will be visited this spring by the governor Li Qiang. The series of Polish - Chinese meeting ends up with China International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo that is held between 8 and 11 June. The part of the exhibition entitled "Central and Eastern European Countries' Products Expo 2014" will focus on the products offered by exporters from CEE region.

“There is a place for Chinese capital in Poland in the automotive industry and in the food sector”, summed up Sławomir Majman.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140519/lets_gochina_this_spring. (PAIiIZ)

During the conference, Sopem company announced that it is entering Kraków SEZ. Under this project that is worth PLN120m, 800 people will be employed. The company plans to encourage its suppliers to join the zone and due to this to create over 1,500 new jobs by them.

The meeting took place on 20 May in the Kraków Invest Park. (PAIiIZ/KPT)

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140520/changes_in_krakow_sez.

According to Euromonitor International, Poland has become one of the European leaders in manufacturing home appliances products. Moreover, Poland is one of the most important exporters of home appliances in Europe with the average 10% of growth every year. Polish products are sold mainly to Germany, France, Great Britain and Russia and Ukraine.

Thanks to the numerous FDI, since 90s Polish home appliances sector has become a very strong European player. “Between 2003 - 2013, with PAIiIZ support, 11 FDI worth €377m have been successfully completed and 4,223 people found job in the sector. During that period, Indesit’s investment in Łódź was the biggest FDI project in Poland supported by the Agency”, said Mrs Polak - Kocińska.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140515/polish_home_appliances_sector. (PAIiIZ)

Areas of the Katowice Special Economic Zone are extended the most by over 346 hectares. New investments are represented by automotive, glass and metal sectors. Pomerania SEZ got bigger by 410 hectares. New areas covered by SEZs programme include: Stargard Szczeciński and Czarna Woda. Under the existing plant in Czarna Woda, Steico will create an innovative production line of laminated veneer lumber.

Changes of zone’s boarders also include Legnica SEZ that increased by 156 hectares and by two automotive investments. In Pola Legnickie, Faurecia will build a production line to manufacture innovative decorative elements of dashboards and door panels for premium cars, while in Głogów Sitech will implement modern technologies for the production of car seat frames designed in the R&D process provided by investors.

The next extended zone, Kostrzyn - Słubice SEZ, increased by over 79 hectares that allows Kronopol to expand and modernise its plant of wood products.

In addition, over 7 hectares of Czarne community have been covered by Słupsk Special Economic Zone. Meble Negro will expand and modernise its furniture plant there. (Ministry of Economy)

Under the new investment project, Fiat Powertrain Technologies Poland plants to introduce the production of an innovative 900cc Small Gasoline Engine ("SGE") in the company’s plant in Bielsko -Biala. Fiat Powertrain Technologies Poland will be the only one producer of this type of engines in the whole Fiat Group in Europe.

The company was co-funded under the Measure 4.5 IEOP “Support for investment of considerable importance to the economy” (Ministry of Economy)

Lapp Cable Company is one of the world’s leading suppliers of cables and cable accessories for mechanical engineering, automotive industry or measurement and control technologies devices. The company provides production in 17 factories located in Europe, America and Asia.

The second investor Łukja is one of the biggest manufacturer and exporter of garments from the Eastern Poland. It cooperates with such global brands as Burberry and Max Mara. The investor implements new technological lines, modernises warehouse facilities and eliminates architectural barriers. According to PAIiIZ president Sławomir Majman who visited the investor, the company’s new sewing room looks like interiors of the most modern IT company. (SEZ)

In Kudowa-Zdroj,next investment of Wemeco Poland specialising in steel, stainless steel and aluminum manufacturing will be established. It is the third permit for the Dutch investor in the WSEZ. The company will invest at least PLN 2.5m in the development of the plant and its machine park as well as will hire 10 new people.

Meanwhile, IMOLA will invest PLN 6.8m in the construction of a plant and a warehouse. The investor will produce plastic packaging. 27 new jobs will be created under this project. (WSEZ "Invest-Park")

The new investment of IMKA will cover nearly 9 hectares of fully prepared plot. Under the investment the company plans to construct a production hall, a warehouse, an office building and the purchase of new production lines and machinery plot. IMKA is one of the European leading producers of wet wipes used for health - care, hygiene and disinfection. Through to the new investment and the implementation of innovative technologies, the company wants to improve the quality and the volume of offered products. The investor also plans to start manufacturing disinfectants and creams. ("Mo - Me" Multimedia)

The delegation of China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery & Electronic Products (CCCME) includes 13 companies representing the engineering and mining sector in China. Companies interested in participating should register on-line until 23 May by www.gochina.gov.pl/CCCME.

Media accreditation is available by www.paiz.gov.pl/CCCME_media.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140526/meeting_with_chinese_engineering_industry. (PAIiIZ)

The Forum's programme includes sessions of individual business meetings between Polish and Chinese entrepreneurs from Zhejiang.

Companies interested in participating should register until 23 May by www.gochina.gov.pl/Zhejiang_forum.

Media accreditation is available by: www.paiz.gov.pl/Zhejiang_forum_media.

The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), PAIiIZ and the Embassy of China are the organisers of the Forum.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140527/zhejiang-poland_matchmaking_forum_en.

Will Poland maintain the position of the most attractive investment destination in Central - Easter Europe? What is Poland’s business image in comparison to other countries of the region. How many new jobs were created by foreign investors in 2013? How will the situation in Ukraine impact on new investment projects in this part of the world? Those are the main highlights that will be discussed during the EY and PAIiIZ conference.

Confirmation of presence for participants and media by 26 May until 12.00 by www.paiz.gov.pl/atrakcyjnoscEuropy.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140527/ey_european_attractiveness_survey. (PAIiIZ/EY)

AutoEvent, AutoEvent will be held between 27 - 29 May 2014 in Villa Verde Congress & SPA, in Zawiercie. During the two-day conference, automotive experts will discuss current issues and the future of the automotive market. Speakers will present forecasts for the industry’s development in Poland and Europe. The most incoming important automotive events will be also presented More information: www.autoevent.pl. (PAIiIZ)

Is Poland still considered as the most attractive country of the region? What countries are the biggest competitors of Poland regarding attracting FDI? How do investors evaluate the conditions of doing business in Poland compared to other countries in the region? Representatives of the Ministry of Economy, SEZs, PAIiIZ and investors will try to answer those questions.

Confirmation of participation and media accreditation is available at www.paiz.gov.pl/MiddleEastEurope# by 27 May at 12.00. (PAIiIZ/AHK)

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)

In the first quarter of 2014, seasonally adjusted GDP grew in real terms by 1.1% compared to the previous quarter and was higher than the in previous year by 3.5 %.

© Argus-Fotolia.com

WMeanwhile, the industrial output in April was higher by 5.4% than the in previous year and by 2.3% lower compared to March 2014.

Comparing to April 2013, the increase in production was recorded by 27 out of 34 industries. In the first four months of this 2014, industrial production was higher by 4.7% compared with the same period last year. (GUS)