The list of major investors is unchanged: most investments come from the U.S. (46 projects worth EUR 833.95 million, planned 7,101 jobs). It is followed by investors from Germany (18 projects, EUR 642 million, 3,719 jobs), China (14 projects, EUR 795 million, 3,553 jobs), the UK (13 projects, EUR 42.6 million, 1,581 jobs) then France, Belgium and Finland (6 projects). In the first place among the most popular sectors is still BPO sector (29 projects, worth EUR 31.95 million, declared 6,918 jobs), just behind is automotive sector (24 projects 1,619.5 million, 8,298 jobs). Next come R&D sector (15 projects), machinery (11 projects) and ICT (10 projects). (PAIiIZ)

On December 27, 2012, the Council of Ministers issued a regulation amending the boundaries of the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone. By incorporating to the Zone more than 57 hectares of land in Malbork, Świecie, Rypin, Gdynia and Włocławek may be created more than 1,200 new jobs in the coming years. The estimated financial expenditure incurred by the investors amount to about PLN 757 million. This Regulation shall enter into force on January 15, 2013.

On January 2, 2013 the Government took a decision on extension of Kraków SEZ. To the boundaries of zone over 90 hectares of land will be incorporated, so that in the next few years more than 2,500 new jobs will be created out there, and another 500 in the surrounding of the Zone. The estimated expenditure on the construction of new plants is approximately PLN 680 million. This Regulation shall enter into force on January 31, 2013. For the decision to incorporate a new land awaits Łódź Special Economic Zone.

For the extension of zones endeavoured PAIiIZ, which currently supports a number of major investors applying for projects in new investment areas. Due to decision of the government investment can be carried out. (PAIiIZ)

The winners of this year's edition:

IN CATEGORY BEST MANAGED UNIT 2012:

• Best Managed City 2012 - the same number of points gained: City of Ełk managed by the Mayor Tomasz Andrukiewicz and the City of Rzeszów managed by the Mayor Tadeusz Ferenc.
• Top Managed County 2012 - Limanowski County managed by the Prefect Jan Puchała.

IN CATEGORY BEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROJECT 2012:

• Best infrastructure project - "The creation of the JESSICA Holding Fund in Pomorskie Voivodeship" organized by the Office of the Marshal of Pomorskie.
• Best promotional project - "Service Point of Rzeszów Citizens" implemented by the Municipality of City of Rzeszów - Rzeszów City Hall.
• Best sports tourism project - "Integrated System of Tourist Information for Pomorskie Voivodeship" implementeded by the Department of Tourism, the Office of the Marshal of Pomorskie.
• The best urban-revitalization project - "Renovation and cultural adaptation to a synagogue in Ostrów Wielkopolski" implemented by the Municipality of City of Ostrów Wielkopolski.

Man of the Year of Polish Local Government 2012 was Prefect of Limanowski County, Jan Puchała.

Certificate in Friendly Local Government project in the category of Citizen Friendly Community received Lesznowola community managed by Mayor Maria Jolanta Batycka - Wąsik.

Innovator Competition is a project addressed to the environment of Polish local governments which create opportunities for promoting and establishing direct relationships with the leaders. More on: konkursinnowator.pl/pl. (MMT Management)

In Poland, the company has been operating since 2007. In the centers located in Toruń Poznań and Warsaw the company provides IT services as well as financial and accounting services for the Polish and international firms. Its current activity in Poland the company evaluates company so high that has decided to expand it by investing in Toruń Centre.

Granted by Ministry of Economy governmental subsidy in the amount of PLN 1.4 million for the purpose of new jobs, will allow the company to create fully operational service center in Toruń. The center will work in the area of IT processes support in terms of finance and accounting and human resource management serving clients from Scandinavia, Germany and the Baltic countries.

According to estimates of PAIiIZ the financial support provided for the project has been effectively offset by payments to the state budget already in the second year of the project.

Project funding was presented to the Ministry of Economy by PAIiIZ, which has been supporting the company's operations in Poland. (PAIiIZ)

Mersey Investments Sp. z o.o will handle production in the processing of paper, packaging, plastic and aluminum on area of 4 hectares in Wrocław Subzone. Entrepreneur guaranteed the investment of at least PLN 19 million and declared employment of 32 employees. The company plans to complete the investment no later than December 31, 2013.

Wabco Poland Sp. z o.o. within Wrocław Subzone (4.0637 hectares) will be responsible for manufacturing (providing production services), R&D, research and technical analysis as well as financial & accounting services and IT. The company manufactures braking systems components, valves, cylinders for opening doors and other air and electronic equipment for motor vehicles. Entrepreneur guaranteed that the investment will be worth at least PLN 70 million and declared employment of 50 workers. The company plans to complete the investment no later than December 31, 2017.

GKN Driveline Poland Sp. z o.o. within the Oleśnica Subzone will be responsible for the production of innovative automotive components. Entrepreneur guaranteed the investment of at least PLN 100 million and employment of at least 100 workers. The company plans to complete the investment no later than December 31, 2015. (WSEZ „Invest Park”)

In one of the halls, where sister-company Swedwoodu - Golblat operated, have been launched design studio, training center and workshop, in which furniture prototypes are created. 20-person team is working on ideas of Swedish designers in order to gain real shape. - We deal with an adaptation of the drawings, which we get from designers working with IKEA in Sweden - it happens that these are sketches on the tissues - for mass production in factories, which have a powerful machine parks - explains Michał Żuchowski, Implementation Center Manager.

Virtual furniture is adapted to the standards of the Swedwood. The result of the Goleniów team work is not only standardized design of the furniture carried out over the prime factors, but also its pristine model.

- People of IKEA mainly want to see a physical, tangible example of such a piece of furniture. Our carpenters deal with its performance. And when everything is ready, practically the next day, due to the great geographical location of Goleniów, we can deliver furniture to the headquarters in Sweden and wait for possible comments - explains M. Żuchowski.

In Goleniów Implementation Center of Swedwood company among others chairs, tables, chests of drawers, wardrobes, beds, bedside tables, kitchenware and other furniture are created. ("Gazeta Goleniowska")

The official opening of the forum will be attended by Polish president Bronislaw Komorowski and the president of Mongolia H.E.Ts. Elbegdorj.

The participation of dozens of Mongolian companies is expected from many sectors (mainly mining, construction, infrastructure, energy) and the most important representatives of Mongolian government. PAIiIZ encourages all the interested companies, entrepreneurs and representatives of the regions to participate in this meeting.

If you are interested in participating in the Forum, please send your completed application to the email address: mongolia@paiz.gov.pl.

Forum will be held in Polish (English translation). A detailed program of the meeting available soon. Participation in the Forum is free of charge. (PAIiIZ)

During the conference, a report of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency on barriers to the inflow of foreign direct investment to Poland will be presented. Invited speakers will discuss barriers to foreign business enterprises in Poland, in particular the system of incentives, labor law and RES. Participation in the conference is free of charge. Applications should be sent by e-mail: beata.jez@paiz.gov.pl. (PAIiIZ)

The organizers of the Forum are planning to invite the following entities for the cooperation: government institutions, Embassy of the Republic of Poland in New Delhi and Association of Polish Cities.

The primary goal of the Forum is to develop the Indian & Polish industry focusing on attracting Indian investments to Poland specializing in the IT and BPO sector. The aim is to ensure that the respective governments, society and business as a whole, understand both the needs of the industry and its contribution to the nation's well being.

The organizers intend to mainly target the business services sector in India (companies which conduct business in the area of Shared Services Center (SSC), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO), Research and Development (R&D) and promote Poland as a destination for new BPO companies to open up their operations in Poland serving also as a gateway to Europe and increase the existing investment of the companies that are already present in Poland.

Therefore from the Polish side will be invited representatives of the public sector, bilateral Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Polish cities and regions, representatives of Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, Ministry of Economy, Association of Polish Cities, Special Economic Zones, Technology Parks, representatives of companies contributing to the services sector's growth (trade, development, real estate, HR, construction, transportation, consultancy, law, representatives of financial institutions.

More information: roadshowpolska.pl/p/node/271, info@roadshowpolska.pl, tel.: 22 357 09 77. (Roadshow Polska)

Polish employers expect the labor market to struggle according to ManpowerGroup Report. For the second quarter Polish results are at the lowest level since the second quarter of 2008, when ManpowerGroup has began conducting research in Poland.

Of the 750 Polish employers surveyed, 9 percent anticipate adding to their workforces in the coming quarter, 15 percent plan reductions and 73 percent expect no change. The weakest labor market is expected by Mining & Quarrying sector employers, who report a Net Employment Outlook of -7%. The strongest hiring pace is anticipated by Transport, Storage & Communication sector employers with an Outlook of +11%, and Wholesale & Retail Trade sector employers report cautiously optimistic hiring plans with an Outlook of +10%.

When compared with the first quarter of 2012, hiring prospects weaken in eight of the 10 industry sectors. A steep decline of 24 percentage points is reported in the Construction sector, while Mining & Quarrying sector employers report a 17 percentage point decrease.

Elsewhere across the globe, the research reveals that most employers expect varying degrees of positive hiring activity during the first three months of the year. Positive net employment outlook was achieved in 29 of 42 countries surveyed. Worldwide, hiring expectations are strongest in Taiwan (+35%), India (27%), Brazil (21%) and Mexico (20%).

Results for all 42 countries can be viewed in the new interactive Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Explorer tool on manpowergroupsolutions.com/DataExplorer. (ManpowerGroup)

The city of Pisz is located in the south of Masurian Lake District and Piska Forest by the River Pisa. Through the city run national roads No. 58 and 64 and the railway line Olsztyn - Ełk.

Pisz subzone covers the area located nearby national road No. 58. This area was awarded in “The Golden Site 2005” competition by Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency and Marshal of Warmia and Mazury Voivodeship.

One of the main sectors which dominate in Pisz commune is the wood sector. In this branch operate such companies as Telmex and “Sklejka Pisz” Paged. Telmex produces furniture and furniture elements. Their products are popular among polish and foreign customers . Their biggest client is Swedish company IKEA SUPPLAY AG. “SKLEJKA-PISZ” PAGED is one of the biggest investors in Pisz Commune and the biggest manufacturer of plywood in Poland.

Apart from wood industry, tourism develops well which is connected with the location of Pisz Commune in the area of Masurian Lake District.

Pisz has prepared for the investors special incentives. One of them is the exemption from the real estate tax. Moreover the investment on areas included into Special Economic Zone  has  a right to obtain exemption from the income tax, even up to 70%.

More on: www.paiz.gov.pl/20130108/inwestuj_w_piszu. (Warmińsko-Mazurskie COI)

Due to EU funding of PLN 16 million the scientists from Gdańsk University of Technology in cooperation with specialists of Deep Ocean Technology are working on a project entitled: "Conducting research and design construction of underwater & above water facility for research purposes."

The hotel designed by engineers from Gdańsk will be based on two discs: underwater, submerged to a depth of approximately 10 meters in which is located about 20 rooms and twin disc, which is located above the water.

Both components of the structure are connected with strong outriggers and vertical route with elevator and stairs.

The prototype construction of Water Discus Hotel will start in 2013. It will be first such kind of oject in the world. (MRR)

Visualization from archive of the Deep Ocean Technology