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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS
INVESTMENTS IN POLAND
ANALYSES AND REPORTS
DID YOU KNOW...?
FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, In today’s edition we present two rankings positively assessing the investment and economic attractiveness of the country. Moreover, there is information on a new Telecordia Research Centre which opened this week in Poznań and performance review for the second quarter at the Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone. At the end we reveal the photo of the first Polish supercar. Pleasant reading! PAIiIZ’s editorial team NEWS Poland goes up in the ranking by „Forbes” Poland classified 33rd on the list of the most entrepreneur-friendly countries, published by the American edition of the “Forbes” magazine. Poland rose by 6 positions in comparison to the last year’s edition of the ranking.
The ranking was published for the 3rd time. The criteria, taken into account in the assessment process, included not only economic but also social aspects of a given country’s reality e.g. the freedom of speech and democratic level of public life. Moreover, data on corruption and inflation was of vital importance. Denmark, Ireland and Finland topped the list this year. Poland in the 33rd place went up by 6 positions in comparison to last year’s ranking. The authors of the report appreciated Polish attempts and efforts to streamline the entrepreneurship development process in the country. Poland came before, among others, Spain - 35, Slovakia - 36, Rumania - 40 and Greece - 53. Yet it is Saudi Arabia that may boast about the most remarkable improvement in the assessment as it rose by 37 positions compared to 2007. (www.manageria.pl) Days of Poland in Shanghai Days of Poland in Shanghai, devoted to promotion of Polish participation in EXPO 2010, took place between June 23-27. The event was organised by the Bureau of the Commissioner General of Polish Section Expo 2010 at the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ).
The idea behind the event was to offer the Chinese audience the possibility to familiarize themselves with elements of Polish culture and to promote the Polish EXPO 2010 participation. Besides the introductory presentation of the Polish Pavilion architectural concept the guest could see the “Chopin in Posters” exhibition and listen to some of the best and worldwide famous Polish jazz pianists - Leszek Możdżer and Jacek Kortus, the XV International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition laureate, who performed for the Chinese audience. The Days of Poland enjoyed a considerable interest and attracted around 400 visitors. Moreover, an informative press conference devoted to the presentation of current state of Polish preparations for EXPO 2010 was organised. On the conference, Dr Paweł Wojciechowski, the PAIiIZ President, said that the Pavilion offers the visitors an opportunity for a meeting with Polish culture and tradition. That should be possible thanks to an attractive accumulation of artistic, tourist and economic programmes and presentations. EXPO 2010 may also be a unique chance for Polish and Chinese investors, scientists and artist to enter into cooperation or strike up new partnerships. The „Chopin in Posters” exhibition, comprised of 70 units, was presented at a Shanghai Mart business and commercial centre. It was prepared by the Wilanów Poster Museum and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. PAIiIZ’s competition for the best Master thesis, regarding the promotion of the Polish economy The Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency together with the Foundation for the Polish Promotional Emblem and in cooperation with University of Warsaw, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw Stock Exchange, Deutsche Bank and Brief for Poland announce 2nd edition of the “Competition for the best Master thesis, regarding the promotion of the Polish economy”. The competition is organised under the honorary patronage of the Minister of Economy.
The idea behind the competition is to popularize the theme of promoting the Polish economy and thus to beef up the young cadre recruitment process for the needs of Polish national marketing. The competition’s objective is to enhance student’s interest and encourage research activity in the field of the Polish economy promotion during studies and in future professional or academic career. Also the competition aims to appeal to academic cadre, student organizations and student media as these are the units with the greatest leverage to create and influence young people’s interest in a given issue. Paweł Wojciechowski, the PAIiIZ President, emphasized that the competition aims at spreading creative attitude towards the promotion of Polish economy and the “Poland” brand. It is geared towards the young representing modern approach to Poland’s image creation as an attractive and reliable economic partner. Results of the first edition of the contest and substantial interest on the part of students made the organisers launch this year’s edition. Theses may be sent in till October 10, to the Foundation for the Polish Promotional Emblem address. The winner is to be decided in December 2008. 10 thousand PLN, internship at the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency as well as a publication of fragments from the best theses in the “Ekonomia” magazine issued by the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences are to be distributed among the best authors. More information: www.paiz.gov.pl and www.terazpolska.pl
INVESTMENTS IN POLAND Telecordia opens in Poznań Telcordia Technologies Inc, announced the opening of a Technology Research Centre in Poznań. The American company, in collaboration with the three most important Poznań universities, created a new university course concerning technological applications of the Internet. The idea behind the new programme is to create a local talent pool of highly qualified cadre. The first recruitment process is due to begin in the academic year 2009/2010.
Telecordia specialises in communications software and services - wireline and wireless as well as in cable networks. The project in Poznań has been coordinated by the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency since January 2007. The Poznań centre is to focus on extending Telecodia’s research and collaboration capabilities with both state-run and commercial partners in Europe. - Telcordia is in an enviable position to build collaborative relationships with local universities, R&D institutions and communications providers, governments and enterprises looking to embrace a path of network evolution and discover new services and features for their customer - said Mark Greenquist, CEO of Telcordia. However, there is more to the investment than initially meets the eye. Having in mind future development perspectives in Poland, the company decided to set up a Consortium for Advanced Applications of Information and Communication Technology. Three most important academic centres in Poznań - Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań University of Economics, and Poznań University of Technology took active part in the undertaking. The consortium is to carry out research as well as teaching programmes. The research programmes include, among others, cooperation with the Polish industry, providing access to prototype technologies and Polish inventions and ideas worldwide promoting. Moreover, first edition of a unique, interdisciplinary MA course in technological applications of the Internet is scheduled to start in the academic year 2009/2010. The course is geared towards engineers and college graduates in economy, technology and science. There is also a possibility to do a PhD course in the field. The course will focus on the silent data conversion issues and on the so called Internet of Things i.e. wireless network between people and objects or objects exclusively. The technology is expected to find application in the so called intelligent buildings, new generation household appliances, telemedicine, dispersed monitoring and many more. The course is to be realised in the departments of the three Poznań universities i.e. Faculty of Informatics and Electronic Economy at the Poznań University of Economics; Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications at Poznań University of Technology; Faculty of Physics at the Adam Mickiewicz University with the support of Telcordia Technologies Inc. (TELCORDIA) Daewoo invests in Strzelce Opolskie One, from among three new Daewoo plants, is to be constructed in Strzelce Opolskie. Another two are planned to be set up in India and Mexico. In Poland the South-Korean investor is about to invest 50 million PLN.
The plant will produce air bags, car electronics elements and shock absorbers. The shock absorbers production is scheduled to reach 5 million units a year. It is estimated that from 100 to 150 persons may find work in the plant. Interestingly enough, it took only three months for the deal to be done. The first S&T Daewoo representatives’ visit to the Strzelce town hall took place three months ago and after a few further meetings, completion of documentation and successful negotiations with the private owner of the production premises, the deal was legally finalized. The Koreans bought two production premises which jointly reach the area of 11 thousand square metres and are located on a 1.3 ha lot. The plant is to be constructed within the Strzelce Opolskie Economic Area. To be more precise, it is to be located on the Gogolińska Str. where the former agricultural machinery producer Agromet-Pionier was situated. As for the Economic Area itself, there are hardly any free lots left. At the moment 35 companies, with around 500 employees, have their production premises located within the Area. On the press conference which took place on Friday, June 27, the S&T Daewoo representative, Mr Jae-Joon Ahn declared, that the new plant will start production in the fall of 2009. He also confirmed that S&T Daewoo entered into a preliminary agreement with the Opel plant in Gliwice concerning the car parts sales. (COI Opole)
The Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone (WSEZ) sums up the second quarter with 9 new investments The second quarter of 2008 saw 9 new permits for foreign investors issued by the Wałbrzych SEZ. They will jointly invest 1 bln 600 mln PLN and create almost 2400 workplaces in the WSEZ.
In fact, three of the nine permissions were issued to investors already active in the SEZ. These are Mahle Polska from Krotoszyn, Nifco Poland from Świdnica and Electrolux Poland, owning two plants in Świdnica and Żarów. German partnership Mahle plans to hire additional 50 people and is about to start production of pistons, sleeves and valves for combustion engines for, among others, Peugeot, Citroen, Daimler, Toyota and Volvo. The investment costs are estimated to exceed 118 million PLN and the construction, which started in April 2008, is scheduled to be completed by 2012. The Japanese Nifco, Toyota’s car parts sub-supplier, is about to invest 14 million PLN by the end of 2009 and install a new production line for more complex products requiring new production technology. In turn, Electrolux is to create 520 jobs thanks to investing 74 million PLN and 40 million PLN in Świdnica and Żarów respectively. The idea behind the investment is to introduce new technologies and applications for cooker and dishwasher production.
The Cadbury plant in Skarbimierz has already been mentioned in detail in previous PAIiIZ Newsletter editions. In short, the British confectionery producer is to open its newest factory in Europe. The investment is estimated to cost 750 million PLN. In effect some 500 new jobs are expected to be created. The remaining four investors come from Holland, Germany, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. In Śrem the Dutch partnership - Polish Assembly Centre - plans to produce window decorative materials for big commercial chains. In this case, investment costs may reach 15 million PLN and the intended staff number accounts for 100 people. In Brzeg Dolny MCAA Europejska S.A. from Germany has been constructing a factory destined to produce monochloroacetic acid. The project is to be finalised by the end of 2010 and the prospects are for 50 new workplaces to be created in the plant. It is undoubtedly ADIF (Advanced Diesel Particulate Filters) that tops the new investment list in terms of job creation. The Japanese-German partnership declares creation of as many as 700 new jobs in its plant located in Wrocław. ADIF wants to start soot filters production. The filters would be designed for diesel engines and manufactured using an innovative technology to be introduced for the first time ever in the Wrocław-based factory. The 513 million PLN worth project is expected to be completed by mid 2015. Also in Wrocław an UAE partnership will invest almost 56.5 million PLN in electric and electronic, with high tech elements, appliance manufacturing plant. Even 450 people may count on finding a job in the plant. The project is to be finalised by the end of 2012. (WSSE) MACROECONOMIC POLAND
Source: www.nbp.pl ANALYSES AND REPORTS Poland ranks 5th in the investment attractiveness ranking Poland ranked 5th in this year’s Polish-German Chamber of Commerce ranking of the most investment attractive CEE countries. In the last year’s ranking Poland classified at 10th position.
The Czech Republic came top in the ranking of 12 countries. Poland was preceded by Slovakia, Slovenia and Germany. However, according to the chamber’s communiqué, there is no other country in the region where the entrepreneur would be as satisfied with the state of economy as in Poland. 73% assess the Poland’s economic condition as very good and the very same percentage positively evaluates their business state. As for the Czech Republic, only 60% of the surveyed entrepreneurs expressed contentment with the economic condition of the country and 57% was positive about their business perspectives. In Slovakia the numbers were 69% and 55% respectively. Optimistic economic forecasts for 2008 prevailed among those investing in Poland with only 13% expecting signs of an economic slowdown on the Polish market. Bulgaria and Romania enjoyed better economic forecasts, with 50% of investors counting on economic improvement. Least positive forecasts were associated with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The surveyed saw Bosnia (82%), Serbia (74%) and Croatia (69%) as the best places for business development in 2008. In Poland 58% of the respondents expect growth in their business value what puts Poland in the 6th place in this respect. A tendency testifying to further investment willingness was widely declared, with 70% of respondents aiming at staff increase and 55% focusing on investment development in Poland in 2008. According to the surveyed, it is the work cost that places the greatest burden on entrepreneurs. 91% of the surveyed calculate that this year the work costs will rise faster than any other expense. The view is shared by entrepreneurs from Slovakia - 83%, Hungary - 77% and the Czech Republic 42%. The general Polish investment attractiveness survey was conducted in March among 771 entrepreneurs associated in German Chambers of Commerce in the CEE region - the Polish Press Agency informs. In Poland 56 companies took part in the survey. (PAP) DID YOU KNOW...? Lamborghini straight from Poland Veno Automotive S.A., a Warsaw-based company, introduces the first exclusive sports car entirely design and produced in Poland.
We came up with the idea in 2007 after a series of meetings and talks with various companies and engineers - says Łukasz Tomkiewicz from Veno Automotive. It turned out that there are many specialists in Poland who are perfectly able to compete with their colleagues form abroad. We decided to take advantage of our partners’ experience (e.g. Carbon Design S.A.), modern machinery and software, join it with Veno’s capital and have a go at the ultimate goal i.e. the first completely Polish production of a luxurious car. Maybe that will prevent many people from associating Poland only with cheap car montage. It was the American invisible to radars jets’ shape that served as an inspiration for the form of the car bodywork. It can be made of glass fibre, or in the more luxurious version, of carbon. The bodywork frame design provides for cooperation with engines over 1000 HP. All the elements are made of high quality aluminium and carbon. There are two versions available - coupé and roadster. At the moment the model is equipped with Audi S6 engine (350 or 450 HP) what makes the car capable of reaching a maximum speed of over 330 km per hour. In the future suspension and engine from Corvette C6 will be adapted to amplify the power of the car up to 1100 HP. Among other supplementary equipment envisaged for future application there are also infrared cameras, carbon interior, interior controlled suspension height system, remote control for car door, a computer with Internet access, navigation, ceramic brakes and steering wheel with an incorporated gearbox. It is worth emphasising that due to the car’s performance capability and its rear wheel drive, the car is only sold in a kind of sport set which includes 2-day course at professional driving school where professionals teach how to keep the powerful car under control. As it is always the case with luxury products, it is estimated that the car production will not exceed 50 units. Every unit prepared by Veno Automotive is to be measure made. The basic version costs 430 thousand PLN net. The car is to be on offer in Western European countries, Russia and in the Middle East, among others, in the United Arab Emirates. (Veno Automotive/Wprost)  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 98, e-mail: redakcja@paiz.gov.pl | ||||||||||||||||
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