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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS
INVESTMENTS IN POLAND
FROM THE REGIONS
DID YOU KNOW?
NEWS From the editor The Warsaw stock exchange is placed second in Europe, in 2008 several hundred of new roads and motorways will be built and gross average pay is now over 3,200 PLN. The state of the economy is looking exceedingly optimistic.
We would like to draw your particular attention to the article “Did you know…?” In Poland one of the world’s most luxurious and unique cars has emerged - the Leopard. You can see its unusual design for yourselves in the enclosed photographs. Pleasant reading! PAIiIZ’s editorial team. The Warsaw stock market the second in Europe In 2007 on the Warsaw Stock Market (GPW) 81 companies made their debuts. This places the GPW second in Europe, following the London Stock Exchange (LSE) - the GPW stated.
Among all the major capital markets in Europe, the Warsaw exchange with the 81 new companies it introduced last year is second on the continent. First place is taken by the LSE with almost 100 new companies - which then noted 99 debuts. Third place in Europe was taken by Euronex (Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and the Lisbon market platform), on whichose floor half as many debuts were noted as in Warsaw (40). Fourth place was taken by the Norway stock market in Oslo (37 debuts), and fifth - the union of exchanges from northern and Baltic countries OMX (35 debuts). The alternative market set up by the GPW - NewConnect has also done very well. Over the four months of its operations 24 companies have been entered on it, placing it third in Europe (compared with the figures for the third and fourth quarters of last year). The first two listings in the alternatives market belonged to the London exchange and NYSE Euronext, with 114 and 47 debuts respectively. NewConnect overtook among others the First North platform, operating next to OMX (17 debuts), and also the Entry Standard market next to Deutsche Boerse (16 debuts). Over 120 billion PLN for the roads Up to 2012 over 120 billion PLN will be invested in the development of the nation’s roads. A similar amount will be invested in roads managed by the local authorities - it was stated by the General Overseers of Domestic Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA).
The GDDKiA intend to involve not only large firms in the investments, but also companies from the sector of Small and Medium Sized Businesses (MSP), especially for the contracts for smaller sections of roads. Smaller firms have already begun tendering for certain contracts, e.g. the construction of the A1 Grudziądz - Toruń motorway, where 60 km of the road has been divided into 4 sections. The contracts for the S7 Elbląg-Pasłęk road are to be allocated in a similar way. Furthermore, the authorities have announced their intention for a further liberalisation of the tendering process, i.e. by reducing the requirements relating to experience or personnel. As Mr Zbigniew Kotlarek, the director of GDDKiA said, at the end of December last year, the management could have more than 20 billion PLN to spend in 2008. This year the construction of 515 km of express routes and 625 km of motorway will begin. Next year there will follow the construction of a further several hundred kilometres of roads. INVESTMENTS IN POLAND New investors enter the Łódź SEZ 400 million PLN are being invested jointly by seven firms, which on Tuesday received official permission to begin trading in the Łódź Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Together they will create at least 800 workplaces.
According to the ŁSEZ, permission to operate in the zone was granted to the following companies: ABB, Delia Cosmetics, Press-Glass, Cornette Underwear, Danfoss, Wielton and the firm Correct - K. Błaszczyk and Partners. The ABB company will build a new electrical motors factory at Aleksandrów near Łódź and it’s worth 62 million PLN. The plant’s employment target is to employ 150 people and annually the factory is to produce 40 thousand items, manufacturing will begin before the end of the year. All production is to be exported to the EU countries. Press-Glass is to invest at least 40 million PLN in the construction of their new plant in the Radomsko economic sub-zone. The company is to manufacture laminated screens in a modern factory, on a 6 ha site. The investor insists that the factory will expand from the initial 150 personnel, to as many as 600, by 2010; it has allocated 10 million EUR for the development. Danfoss a manufacturer of heat pumps, will invest 65 million PLN and employ at least 250 people in the Grodzisk Mazowiecki sub-zone. Wielton are to invest 47.5 million PLN in the manufacture of trailers, including those for articulated lorries, in the Wieluń sub-zone. The Correct Company, will invest 173 million PLN in a furniture plant at Nowe Skalmierzyce, the firm will employ at least 100 people. The Łódź Special Economic Zone was established in 1997. It embraces an area of 648 ha, which is over 82% occupied. It is characterised by a dispersed layout - formed from 24 sub-zones. Last year operating permits were issued to 20 investors; these are to invest over 6.3 billion PLN and to employ 5.1 thousand people. Since its opening, the zone has awarded permits to 115 companies. The total value of the investment capital is to be 6.3 billion PLN and 16,500 new jobs have been created. 1.8 billion PLN of investments in the KSEZ throughout last year A joint sum of 1.8 billion PLN of investments were made for the construction and development of enterprises in the Katowice Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) last year, the resident companies announced.
Due to the completion of 36 projects last year, 3.5 thousand new workplaces will be created. Additionally in 2007 within the KSEZ, several thousand jobs were created among firms that were already established and trading within the area. - In 2007 for the first time the investment structure is not dominated by automotive sector, in which 700 million PLN of investments have been declared. Top place is taken by investors from the broadly defined building and construction sector, the sum of which will reach around 800 million PLN - Mr Piotr Wojaczek, the president of the KSEZ stated. Among the most significant of last year’s investments, he mentioned a project that has been operating for some time, the Saint-Gobain works in Dąbrowa Górnicza (up to now outside the zone), which will build a plate glass factory for 334 million PLN and expand its existing plant for the production of car windscreens and also in Gliwice at a cost of over 120 million PLN, it will develop a plant for the production of building materials. The KSEZ’s results in terms of gaining capital investments last year was the best for six years and much better than anticipated. For 2008 the zone anticipates investments of app. 1.5 billion PLN and 2.5-3 thousand new work places. This year the KSEZ representatives predict further investments from firms in the BPO sector, in the realms of accountancy and bookkeeping centres. Such investors already operate in the KSEZ in office blocks in the city of Katowice. The zone wants to continue its expansion by taking over more office space. - We have had a promise of 80 thousand metres of office space for the needs of the KSEZ, in four office blocks that are either under construction, or being planned. The office space will be provided over the next 3-4 years. This year from the BPO sector, we can expect up to 1,000 jobs in Katowice - Wojaczek estimated. Established over 10 years ago, the KSEZ is the largest of Poland’s 14 economic zones. Initially it covered an area of 800 ha and it’s now over 1,200 ha and it could expand to up to 1.5 - 2 thousand ha. The investors have created (or committed to) 35 thousand new work places, investing (capital spent or committed) over 4.1 billion EUR. Over 160 trading permits have been awarded in the KSEZ. MACROECONOMIC POLAND
Source: www.nbp.pl FROM THE REGIONS An industrial park with almost a thousand workplaces on reclaimed land Around 940 workplaces, mainly in companies from the new technology sector will be established in Katowice, on a reclaimed site of the former industrial chemical apparatus plant at Katowice-Ligota.
- The rate of progress of the business park is around 70%. Already today, in 3 of the 10 prepared buildings 300 people are at work. 11 companies are operating, mainly from the IT and new technology sector relating to energy conservation and sources of renewable energy - the Park’s Director Mr Roman Trzaskalik, said.
The Euro-Centrum Business Park has been set up within the framework of the Sector Operating Programme for the Increase of Business Competitiveness. This programme has covered 43 million PLN of the investment, which is valued at 63 million PLN. According to Trzaskalik, to build the park from scratch on the edge of town would certainly be cheaper, than to adapt the former works site. However, the EU is financing similar ventures, to restore life to disused industrial sites that are often located at the centre of urban areas. Under the Ligota investment on a 3.5 ha area of the former industrial chemical apparatus plant, 3 buildings have been totally rebuilt, 4 others have been adapted and the 3 remaining structures are at various stages of development. The total area for offices, services, exhibitions, warehouses and manufacturing is app. 15 thousand m2 . A small section of the park is at Chełm Śląski, where on a 1 ha site, a building of 705 m2 will be built, designated for the needs of local businesses.
In accordance with the goals of Euro-Centrum, 84 firms are to be provided with locations and to employ at least 800 people. The net cost of leasing an office area is to be 50 PLN per m2 . Throughout the first two years of tenure the tenants can expect significant assistance in the leasing costs. The Park is to assist in raising the competitiveness of businesses; making a modern office and technical area available and providing access to a consultancy service, training and also help in applying for EU funds. Following from the business park’s construction, executed under the framework of two investment projects and one consultancy project and worth 22 million EUR, will be a further project - the creation of a science and technology park, dedicated to the problems of energy conservation and renewable energy and being prepared on the pattern of an existing park in Austia’s Weiz. (Source: PAP) Further information: http://www.euro-centrum.com.pl/ DID YOU KNOW? Luxury made in Poland Apparently the array of luxury vehicles bought in Poland is produced exclusively by foreign manufacturers and international corporations. However, few of the Polish purchasers realise that one of the world’s most exclusive automobiles is produced in….Mielec.
Produced since 1997, hand made, with a six litre engine, aluminium chassis and prices in the region of 120 thousand EUR, the Leopard has been acclaimed equally by critics and auto enthusiasts all across the world as a car “from the top drawer”. Whilst the identity of its clients is a secret, according to unofficial sources of information amongst them are members of Sweden’s royal family, Hollywood stars and a Qatar sheik. Recently the company’s owner Mr Zbysław Szwaj said that the car’s ownership circle was recently broadened by two Polish clients. The Leopard Automobile Mark is currently not as easily recognisable as that of Porche or Ferrari - symbols of luxury; however, among auto enthusiasts it has a very positive reputation. The company strategy is not to advertise extensively but to carefully target a particular selection of clients, e.g. during special auto exhibitions. The car was exhibited initially in Sweden and later in Paris. The car’s design was also displayed in PAIiIZ’s exposition “Designed in Poland” in Munich and in Geneva.
The key to success has been the coupling of a classic design inspired by the pre-war style, with modern technology and mechanicals. - This firm is the fulfilment of my dreams - says Mr Szwaj, an engineer who has created the Leopard from scratch. - The guiding principle was this: not to compete with great firms such as Ferrari or Bugatti, but to create a timeless vehicle. To pay attention to the car’s style and image, linking elements from the past with modern parameters. The Leopards from Mielec can certainly be included amongst exclusive products, which are only available to the few, not only because of their high price, but also due to the small scale of production - around twenty models are produced each year. Thus the zealous must be armed not only with large wallets, but with patience, as the waiting list is long. However, the owner has promised a change in the marketing strategy, development of the plant and increasing investment in marketing.
Further information: www.leopardautomobile.com  Editorial office: Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, 00-585 Warsaw, Bagatela Street 12Economic Promotion Department tel: | |||||||||||||||
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On Friday the main building located in the Euro-Centrum Business Park was opened. More than a dozen of the companies that will be located there and several hundred of the employees will be in a class A office building of 6 thousand m2 . Leasing agreements have already been signed by 15 firms.
