| POLISH INFOMATION AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT AGENCY | ||||||
 
NEWSLETTER
September 18th, 2014, Issue 400 | ||||||
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NEWS New EU financial perspective
"We believe the EU founds will help to shape Polish economy", said president Sławomir Majman during the conference entitled "EU Founds 2014-2020 - a new perspective - new opportunities for entrepreneurs" which took place on 15 September in PAIiIZ.
Poland will receive €82.5 billion under 2014-2020 EU budget. It is about €10 billion more than in the previous EU financial perspective. Only under 4.5.2 OP Innovative Economy of 2007-2013 EU budget, 121 service projects received the support. Due to that 12,000 new jobs should be created. On the other hand, financial aid from 4.5.1 OP IE has allowed companies to implement 26 production projects worth PLN 7,5 billion in total. “It is the best proof of the real influence of EU funds on the Polish economy", stressed president Majman.
The Operational Programme Smart Growth (OP SG) is the successor of the OP IE in the current EU financial perspective. It will support scientific research, development of innovative technologies and the increase of the competitiveness of SMEs. EU funds in 2014-2020 are distributed along with the new map of public aid. For the majority of Polish provinces the limit of public aid has been reduced as a consequence of the improvement of the level of their development. Only 4 provinces of Eastern Poland have still the highest limit reaching 50%. Among them there are: Warmińsko-mazurskie, Podlaskie, Lubelskie and Podkarpackie. In other regions, funding have dropped to 35% or even 25%. Conference entitled "EU Funds 2014-2020. A new perspective - new business opportunities" was arranged by PAIiIZ and Crido Taxand. More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20149015/new_eu_financial_perspective. (PAIiIZ) Hosting African media
PAIiIZ has organised a study visit of journalists from Ethiopia and Tanzania to Poland. The mission has begun on 15 September with the meeting with PAIiIZ president Sławomir Majman.
The meeting focused on issues related to the global expansion of Polish entrepreneurs and special business programmes as “GoAfrica” and “GoChina” provided by Polish government which aims to increase the trade exchange with African countries and in the Chinese market.
Journalists visiting Poland collect information about attitude of the Polish business towards African markets, competitiveness of Polish companies comparing to Chinese and American ones as well as Polish government plans for new programmes supporting Polish exports.
One can observe the first effects of the study tour. On 16 September, one of Tanzanian newspapers published a reportage on the media visit to Poland. “Poland is an >>investment guru<< regarding mining, food processing and the machinery sector. Moreover, the activity of this country on Tanzanian market is getting stronger”, writes Mkinga Mkinga. More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140915/media_form_africa. (PAIiIZ) Journalists from UAE in Poland
United Arab Emirates are said to be the safe heaven for Polish investors, the gateway to the Persian Gulf and a key partner of Poland in the region. From 15 September, at the invitation of PAIiIZ, journalists from the UAE are visiting Poland. The study visit begun with a meeting with PAIiIZ deputy president Anna Polak-Kocińska.
Mrs Polak-Kocińska introduced the visitors with the economic potential of Poland and cooperation opportunities between both countries. Among the most prospective sectors of UE economy there are: luxury goods, cosmetics and furniture. The opening of the Trade and Investment Promotion Section in Abu Dhabi, in April 2014 is considered as a milestone in strengthening the bilateral relations. Journalists represent leading Arabian business media focusing on such subjects as: design, food industry, construction and automotive sector - according to Polish Ministry of Economy those are the crucial Polish sectors to be promoted in UAE. The visit is provided under the programme of general promotion of Poland in the United Arab Emirates in 2014, as part of the "Sub-measure 6.5.1 of the Innovative Economy Operation Programme. More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140915/journalists_from_uae_in_poland. (PAIiIZ) Chinese economic meeting with CEE
Recent days were dominated by the business forums and meeting dedicated to mutual cooperation of CEE and China. PAIiIZ president Sławomir Majman, who took part those events, has been involved in the most important effect of all of them: the decision to organize a the founding meeting of the “Secretariat of 16 + 1” in Warsaw, in November 2014.
On 12 September, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences held the forum on cooperation between China and Central Eastern Europe. On the invitation of the Chinese side the session was led by PAIiIZ president Sławomir Majman. In his speech, Mr Majman talked about the threats and challenges of cooperation between China and CEE countries. He also talked about the imbalances in trade, low level of investments and tendency of the Chinese to treat all countries in the CEE region without taking into account the significant economic differences. President Majman also stressed the role the Initiative 16+1, and the concept of the New Silk Road. Poland is the biggest country of the “European 16” therefore the meeting of establishing the “Secretariat of 16 + 1” will be held Polish capital city, this November. The decision of locating founding meeting in Warsaw was made during the Contact Mechanism Meeting for the Investment Promotion Agencies of China - CEE Countries on 10 September in China. The series of European - Chinese meeting has been fished with the business seminary on promotion of Chinese investments in Poland has been organized in Shenyang (Liaoning province). More information: (PAIiIZ) INVESTMENTS IN POLAND Ikea - the largest sawmill in Poland
In Stalowa Wola, Ikea has opened the largest sawmill in Poland, that is also the Ikea Group's largest plant of this type in the world.
The factory operating under Tarnobrzeska SEZ, will produce furniture boards for IKEA stores. Initially, the Swedish employer will hire 75 people and plans to increase the level of employment to 300 people. The Swedish company has big plans for expansion on the Polish market. As Katarzyna Balashov z IKEA Retail Poland said to Newseria Business news agency, during the next 20 years the company wants to increase sales eightfold, from the current 2 billion to PLN16 billion. IKEA project has been supported by PAIiIZ. More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140916/ikea_the_largest_sawmil_in_poland. (PAIiIZ) InPost conquers Italy
Poland - based leader in automated parcel machines - InPost - has announced a partnership with the Italian-Spanish Repsol, owner of a petrol station network covering 29 countries. Under the agreement InPost will install parcel lockers in Italy.
The cooperation with Repsol will extend InPost network in major Italian cities. In total, up to 1,000 InPost automated parcel machines will be deployed in Italy by the end of 2015. Recently, InPost has also signed other strategic agreement with TNT Italy. In addition, the company has been already cooperating with Banzai, the largest Italian e-commerce platform.
InPost the world’s biggest operator of automated parcel machines continues its rapid expansion all over the world. It is present in the UK, Ireland, France, Island, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Estonia, Russia, Cyprus, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Salvador and Guatemala. The company is also planning to establish 6,000 new terminals in Europe, Asia, North and South Americas and Middle East and Africa. (InPost) A survey on investment climate in Poland
PAIiIZ invites you to take part in the survey on investment climate in Poland. The final report will be based on the opinions of companies with foreign capital operating in Poland.
We are interested in the comments of the companies with foreign capital, regarding the factors that decided to set up and run the business in Poland. The survey is fully anonymous. To take part visit: www.paiz.gov.pl/climate. The question form should be completed not later than by 19 September. More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140903/a_survey_on_investment_climate_in_poland. (PAIiIZ) MACROECONOMIC POLAND EVENTS IV European Congress of Small and Medium-Size Enterprises
"10 years of business without borders" - this is the highlight of the Fourth European Congress of Small and Medium-Size Enterprises. This meeting will take place on 22nd-25th September 2014 in Katowice, Poland. The event is co-organised by PAIiIZ.
Small and medium-size entrepreneurship is the key engine of the Polish economy. Challenges and possibilities of development of small and medium-size enterprises will be discussed by the most significant personalities in Poland, representatives of science, politics and economy, as well as numerous foreign delegations. More information: www.kongresmsp.eu/en. (www.kongresmsp.eu) Hong Kong: Where business grows
PAIiIZ took the patronage over the seminar addressed to Polish companies willing to start or expand a business in Hong Kong and China. The meeting will be held on 25 September at the Bristol Hotel in Warsaw.
This unique event will bring together all of the key players: Hong Kong experts, private sector professionals experienced in doing business in Hong Kong and China as well as the business support community in Warsaw. During the meeting, InvestHK’s Director-General Simon Galpin will present how to take the first small steps towards growing your operations in the exciting Asia market. Participation in the event is free of charge. More information: www1.investhk.gov.hk/event-detail/where-business-goes-to-grow-seminar-and-networking-lunch-warsaw-poland. (Invest Hong Kong) Business mission to Scandinavia
Between 24-26 November 2014, under the project entitled „Invest in Pomorskie”, Pomaranian Agency of Regional Development will hold a business mission to Denmark. All companies active in eco-technology sector are invited.
The participants will have the opportunity to take part in Agromek 2014 - one of the biggest agro-food trade fair in Europe. The access in available until 29 September. More information: https://sse.slupsk.pl/index.php/en. (PARR) China Yiwu International Commodities Fair
 Supporting Polish-Chinese cooperation, PAIiIZ invites you to participate in a trade mission to 20th China Yiwu International Commodities Fair. The fair takes place between 21-25 October.The participation in China Yiwu International Commodities Fair is an opportunity for Polish business interested in the Chinese market to establish contact with partners in the Far East. The number of participants is limited. Applications will be accepted until 30 September; the form is on www.gochina.gov.pl/YIWU_2014. ANALYSES AND REPORTS Increasing the exports
Despite the recent political crisis in the Eastern Europe, 50% of Polish companies expects the increase of exports in the second part of 2014, say experts of HSBC and Oxford Economics.
Due to the fall in export orders from Ukraine and Russia, Polish companies are intensively looking for new foreign markets. According to the survey, Asia, including China and India, is considered as the most promising alternative. In 2030, China will expected to be the fifth most important export destination of Poland. Still, among Poland’s leading trade partners there are: Germany, Great Britain, France and Turkey.
The experts of Oxford Economics forecast that Polish GDP will reach 3.4% in 2014 while in 2015 it will be estimated at the level of 3.6%. (www.hsbc.com) Expansion - the best way to develop microenterprises
Microenterprises are considered as one of the fastest developing segments of the Polish market that is looking for new way of growth. According to the Kronenberg Foundation, 1/5 of them considers the global expansion as the best way to develop the business.
Most surveyed companies plan to expand the scope of their activity within Poland, however 36% of them intend to start operating abroad as well. The most popular foreign market is Germany - 34% of surveyed companies willing to do business abroad are planning to do business there. Most certainly, the economic and regulatory stability in Germany also support such a choice. Among the most important factors playing a decisive role in choosing foreign expansion there are: the potential demand for company’s services (31%), development opportunities (17%) and the existing business relations (14%), while the location being the least important (6%). As the survey shows, microenterprises are very well prepared to global expansion. 1/3 of them looks for the external financing as the EU funds (companies planning expansion) or bank loans (companies already established in new markets). The decision to expand to another country always involves higher risk, but it also helps increase the chances of success. Importantly, 94% companies that have already decided to expand their operations, do not regret this decision, and 96% of them plan to enter new - local and foreign - markets within the next two years. (Citybank Handlowy) Encouraging hiring plans for the 4Q 2014
Employers in Poland report cautiously optimistic hiring intentions for the next three months. According to ManpowerGroup quarterly report, 13% of them plan to increase the total employment in their companies, 8% of consider reduction of employment while 73% of them don’t plan to make any changes regarding the company’s HR policy.
Compared with employers’ expectations for the third quarter of 2014, the employment forecasts for the incoming 3 months have been improved in seven out of 10 surveyed sectors. The most optimistic forecasts are reported in the Transport, Storage & Communication (improvement by 15%) and the Wholesale & Retail Trade industry (improvement by14%). Moreover, employers in Agriculture& Fishing sector report the most optimistic hiring plans since 3Q 2008. In comparison to the results of the third quarter of 2014, the improvement has been recorded in three out of the six regions of Poland. The highest growth was observed in “the South” (by 5 percentage points) and “the North” (by 4 percentage points). In “the South-West” forecast fell by 9 percentage points, while in “the Central” region in went down by 3 percentage points. (Manpower) FROM THE REGIONS Promotion of Polish entrepreneurship
"Voivodship authorities are good in promoting Polish entrepreneurship as they have the best understanding of the potential of regions", said PAIiIZ deputy president Monika Piątkowska during the Convent of Marshals held in Nałęczów.
Mrs Piątkowska spoke about the implementation of Programme of Economic Promotion of Eastern Poland. The aim of the programme is to increase the investment attractiveness of Polish macro region and Eastern Europe. Thanks to that, representatives of local governments and companies can participate in trade fairs and investment missions that are organised by PAIiIZ. Since 2010, 753 contracts with a value of PLN350m have been signed by companies from the Eastern Poland macroregion.
More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140912/promotion_of_polish_entrepreneurship. (PAP/PAIiIZ) Techno-Park to be created in Radom
Industrial Development Agency together with Radom Centre of Innovation and Technology are working on the establishment of Techno - Park in Radom.
The Techno - Park will consist of techno-business incubator, centre of innovation with laboratories, IT support centre and skills development centre. The new institution will also offer the support of business advisors including expert help in gaining public aid and grants. The Techno - Park will be evolved in development of cooperation between local companies and R&D institutions. (ARR) Warmińsko - Mazurskie province goes on-line
The authorities of Warmińsko - Mazurskie province plan to implement programme entitled „Plan Cyfrowy 2025 dla Warmii I Mazur” (The digital Plan 2025 for Warmia and Mazury) to cover the whole province with wideband Internet.
As the experts say, the access to wideband Internet will be the key engine of the development of the province as the programme should let the Wamia and Mazury region to lower the investment barriers. The access will be open to all Internet providers who offer their service to local inhabitants, institutions and companies. (W-M Province) 
Editorial office: Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, 00-585 Warsaw, Bagatela Street 12 Information and Communication Department, tel: +48 22 334 99 49, fax: +48 22 334 99 99, e-mail: redakcja@paiz.gov.pl | ||||||
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