POLISH INFOMATION AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT AGENCY
NEWSLETTER
March 17th, 2011,
Issue 218

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

NEWS

20 years of good neighbourhood

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Treaty on Good Neighbourhood and Friendly Cooperation, a conference "Balance and Perspectives 20 years of good neighbourhood" was held March 14 in Halle, Germany.

The event was under patronage of Ms Cornelia Pieper, Federal Government Representative for German-Polish Cooperation. During the conference, spoke Ms. Cornelia Pieper, Mr. Marek True, the Polish Ambassador in Berlin, Ms. Grazyna Henclewska, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economy and Chairman of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Mr. Slawomir Majman.

The PAIiIZ President stressed the importance of the Polish-German cooperation, especially in a field of small and medium enterprises, not only economic, but also cultural and political.

Members of the meeting discussed also the issue of investments in renewable energy sources (RES).
The conference was prepared by the Polish Embassy in Berlin, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Trade and Investment Promotion Section of the Polish Embassy in Berlin. (PAIiIZ)

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Perspectives for the Polish-Lithuanian cooperation

On the 8th of March 2011 a conference took place in Vilnius organized by the Trade and Investment Promotion Section of Polish Embassy in Vilnius “Economic cooperation between Poland and Lithuania. Current situation and perspectives for the future”.

During the conference, Poland was represented by Mr Rafał Baniak - the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economy and Mr Sławomir Majman - the President of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency. Lithuania was represented by the Vice-Minister of Economy - Mr Daumantas Lapinskas and the Director of the Lithuanian Development Agency - Mrs Laura Guobuzaite.

During the conference, Poland was presented as a modern country, with stable economy and as an attractive destination for Lithuanian entrepreneurs. The Polish Ambassador to Lithuania, Janusz Skolimowski, emphasized, at the beginning of the conference, the fact that Poland is the biggest foreign investor in Lithuania.


From the left: Rafał Baniak - Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economy, Janusz Skolimowski - the Polish Ambassador to Lithuania, Sławomir Majman - President of PAIiIZ.

Conference in Wilno - Sesion 1.

Rafał Baniak - the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economy positively evaluated Polish-Lithuanian economic cooperation. - Lithuania is rising rapidly from recession, and Poland, which was one of the few countries that escaped the economic downturn, is a good partner. Close bilateral cooperation is also generated by geographic proximity and traditional ties between the two countries - said Rafał Baniak.

Sławomir Majman - the President of PAIiIZ said that Poland made the most of the European economic crisis and attracted foreign investors. At the time when the crises was intensified in Europe, investors sought safe locations. - Poland had to offer them a scarce commodity - economic stability. Poland became fashionable, it become a trendy place  for foreign investors - underlined Sławomir Majman.

- We are pleased that during the conference Lithuanian entrepreneurs spoke positively about the  attractiveness of the Polish market and the Polish economy. It is the best form of promotion - said after the conference Ryszard Kowalski - First Counsellor of the Trade and Investment Promotion Section of the Polish Embassy in Vilnius. The success of the conference was also the fact that Polish companies operating in Lithuania could  present themselves and their offer during the event - added Kowalski.


Janusz Skolimowski - Polish Ambassador to Lithuania.

Sławomir Majman - President of PAIiIZ.


During the conference there were three sessions. First one was dedicated to the representatives of  trade companies, the second one was represented by Lithuanian companies which have decided to debut on the Warsaw Stock Exchange - Avia Solutions Group and AgrowillGroup. In the third session representatives of Polish companies that have invested in Lithuania and Lithuanian companies that invested in Poland met. The conference was also attended by representatives of the Polish largest investor in Lithuania - Orlen Lietuva and Warta Glass Company from Poniewież. (PAIiIZ)

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INVESTMENTS IN POLAND

Machów and  Nowa Dęba prestigious place for Pilkington

Prestigious investment will be located in Poland. The investment project of the Japanese company from the NSG group - Pilkington Automotive Poland was led by PAIiIZ.

Negotiations ended with a positive investment decision. The project received grant of PLN 92 848 200 from the Operational Programme - Innovative Economy (Action 4.5.1) and therefore the investor decided to conduct its investment project in Chmielów - the Nowa Dęba municipality (Podkarpackie Voivodship).

In Poland Pilkington Automotive Poland will produce front and side car windows. The project is estimated to cost PLN 380 mln and is expected to create over 400 jobs. The investment area will be within the Tarnobrzeska Special Economic Zone. Pilkington Automotive considered the possibility of placing the investment in Romania, but finally chose Poland thanks to the support of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency. (PAIiIZ)

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New investor in the Łódź SEZ

100 new jobs in the Łódź Special Economic Zone.

The investor, L-Correct will construct a production facility worth PLN70 mln in the Nowe Skalmierzyce subzone. In the facility L-Correct will manufacture latex foams and wires for the furniture industry. The new factory will be constructed in the direct vicinity of the investor's other factory run by CORRECT - K Błaszczyk i wspólnicy Spółka Komandytowa. The company met all the requirements which classify the project as an innovative initiative. In fact, the latex foam will be a completely new product on the Polish market. The investment project will thus increase the competitiveness of Poland’s economy, will make Polish producers of mattresses and upholstered furniture independent of foreign suppliers (usually from France, Italy, Belgium and Spain).

CORRECT - K. Błaszczyk i wspólnicy Spółka Komandytowa was granted two business activity permissions by the Łódź SEZ - in 2006 and in 2008. To date the company has invested PLN281 mln and created 994 workplaces. (ŁSSE)

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MACROECONOMIC POLAND

  • The 4Q of 2010 saw GDP (in steady prices in reference to 2000) grow by 0.8% in comparison to the previous quarter and was 3.9% higher than in the same period last year. In the 4Q of 2010 it was domestic demand that ranked among major factors shaping the GDP growth. (Central Statistical Office)

  • Exchange rates (as of 17.03.2011):

Buy

Sell

USD

2.8957

2.9541

EUR

4.0318

4.1132


Source: www.nbp.pl

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FROM THE REGIONS

Days of the Kaliningrad region in Warmia and Mazury

The Provincial Government of Warmia and Mazury and Local Government of the Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation invite to the Kaliningrad Days.

This event will be held from 17 to 19 March 2011 in Olsztyn. The aim of the event is to promote cultural ties between two neighboring regions in Poland and Russia and to stimulate economic cooperation. Their participation in this event have already confirmed the Kaliningrad Region Governor Mr Nikolai Cukanow and his ministers responsible for culture, economics, industrial policy, agriculture and fisheries. The Governor will meet Marshal of the Warmia and Mazury region Mr Jacek Protas and the governor, Mr Marian Podziewski.

During the Kaliningrad Days there are numerous cultural and economic events scheduled. On 18 March 2011 Business Cooperation Forum will be held, which aims to develop economic ties between the two regions, to establish business contacts and familiarize with the investment offer of Kaliningrad. Admission is free.

For more information, please visit: www.wmarr.olsztyn.pl and www.wrota.warmia.mazury.pl

(WMCOI) 

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DID YOU KNOW...?

III European Economic Congress

Between the 16th -18th of May 2011 in Katowice there will be held the III European Economic Congress  (EEC), which is one of the most important business events in Central Europe. For three days Katowice becomes a place of discussion of several hundred debaters: people of politics, business, science and economy.

The Organizing Committee - Patronage Council is in charge of the merits and the organizational shape of the Congress. Its Honorary Head is Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament.
The leading topic of the next Congress will be competitive European economy. Together with panelists and guests we will reflect on what actions have to be undertaken, which processes need to be launched, which priorities we should focus on so that European economy can compete successfully with the most expansive economies of Asia and both Americas.

The crucial aspect of fighting for competitiveness is the question of institutional reform of the EU which needs to function more efficiently and effectively. New EU order is opening another scope of Congress topics - covering problems of public finance, new EU budget perspective, processes of stabilization of EU members economies.

Among subjects of the European Economic Congress 2011 you can also find points connected with climate and energy package and its impact on economy. We will also discuss the future of power industry and common EU energy policy, competitiveness of traditional industrial sectors, innovations, relations industry - science and links between development of economy, regions and cities.

Problems of Central and Eastern Europe region will be a subject of separate discussion this year. More detailed discussions will concern, among others, BPO, mining, metallurgy, heat engineering, gas market and construction.

III European Economic Congress 2011 will gather over 4 500 guests from Poland and from abroad.

You can find more information about the European Economic Congress at: www.eec2011.eu (EEC)

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Economic Promotion Department, tel: +48 22 334 99 49, fax: +48 22 334 99 99,
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