POLISH INFOMATION AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT AGENCY
NEWSLETTER
 September 17th, 2015,
 Issue 451

NEWS

Polish National Day at Milan EXPO

Deputy prime minister, minister of economy Janusz Piechociński
On September 13, Polish pavilion was bursting at the seams. For all days the Pavilion has been extremely popular among visitors, however on Sunday, during the Polish National Day, it had to entertain even more guests. “At least for a few days, 20 thousand people a day come to us. This building will not stand more” said the commissioner general of the Polish Section at EXPO 2015 and PAIiIZ president Sławomir Majman.

Since the 1 May Polish Pavilion has been visited by more than 920 thousand people. Meanwhile, the organisers expected 800 thousand visitors during the whole EXPO duration.

“We present Poland as an open and hospitably country, which can share its own success with others. We show Poland with efficient economy and interesting, open-minded people” Polish deputy prime minister and minister of economy Janusz Piechociński emphasized.

On the occasion of Polish National Day at EXPO there were i.e. a parade with the Orchestra of the Polish Army Warsaw Garrison, porcelain exhibition entitled "Polish Table", the National Philharmonic Orchestra concert and premiere of the fourth symphony of Henryk Górecki. Guests could also find other objects and works of Polish young designers. In the Polish pavilion there were also folk performances, concerts of young Polish musicians, e.g. Marika. Children enjoyed the most a chocolate train.

Tourist’s common opinions are enthusiastic. Especially the garden on the roof of the building and Polish culinary specialties impress all guests. “Everyone emphasizes that we managed to become a power when it comes to food exports in Europe. Everyone emphasizes that Poland is completely different than it was 10 years ago” commissioner Majman said.


"Polish Table" - the exhibition of porcelain

Polish Pavilion is the fourth-largest pavilion at EXPO 2015. Its elevation refers to crates of apples. Guests of the pavilion has already get a few tons of apples. The visitors can also try other delicacies typical for Polish cuisine. They appreciate especially the pea soup and dumplings.


Concert during Polish Day at EXPO Milan

New opportunities for Italian industry - forum in Milan

Deputy prime minister, minister of economy Janusz Piechociński
“I would like to thank Italian companies for great contribution to the modernisation of the Polish economy. Poland and Italy speak same language: the language of industry” - deputy prime minister Janusz Piechocinski said during the forum "Poland - new opportunities for Italian entrepreneurs" which was held on 14 September in Milan. Discussion was moderated by president of PAIiIZ Sławomir Majman.

“We have to intensify our cooperation. We want more Italian investments in Poland. We also offer Polish investments in Italy, as our companies have already grown up and are able to create here, in Italy new jobs” - deputy prime minister Piechociński emphasized.

Gianfelice Rocca, the president of Assolombarda, the association of Italian companies from the region, stressed the economic achievements of Poland. “Poland has the ideal ecosystem for business. Polish - Italian relations, both in the field of economy and culture, have always been intense. All entrepreneurs are looking at Poland now.”

Speaking of Polish-Italian economic relations, deputy minister of economy, Arkadiusz Bąk has expressed willingness to develop cooperation in building the best pilot training centre on the basis of the so-called the “School of Eaglets” in Dęblin. “We will combine the best equipment, which comes from Italy, and the best instructors who come from Poland” he concluded. Deputy minister also mentioned about an even trade balance in the Polish-Italian commercial exchanges. “Italy exports more from Poland, but this is a win-win situation”.

After the official part of the Forum, a panel was held where representatives of Italian investors like Salini, Ferrero, Indesit, Mapei, Techint Group and UniCredit shared their experience of doing business in Poland.

Italy appreciated the potential of Poland relatively early - a factory of the company Fiat was established in Poland 25 years ago. Positive rates of growth, even during the global crisis, have become a magnet for new Italian investors and an incentive for companies that have already set foot in the country on the Vistula to intensify their efforts. The volume of the Italian capital invested there exceeded 9.2 bn euro and the number of Italian entrepreneurs in Poland amounted to almost 1300. (PAIiIZ)


Forum "Poland - new opportunities for Italian entrepreneurs"

INVESTMENTS IN POLAND

F5 has chosen Poland
Poland has been chosen for a location of key-investment of F5 - its Technical Centre Warsaw, responsible for customer service, security and product development. The opening ceremony was held on 16 September 2015 in Warsaw.

Technical Centre Warsaw will be based in Warsaw’s Mokotów district. The investment will feature a Technical Services department, a Product Development arm and Security Operations Centre (SOC). It is one of the few such places in both Poland and Europe as a whole. F5 will employ dozens of skilled workers in the IT sector.


Technical Centre Warsaw has been officially opened

Poland was chosen i.e. due to its strategic geographical location and top-class, multi-lingual IT talent staff. "Poland is known for its ability to create safe conditions for business and creative environment for development. Therefore Poland is attracting global advanced technology companies more effectively. Since now, Polish IT specialists will be behind F5. innovative solutions." said Sławomir Majman, president of PAIiIZ.

"We are pleased that we will be able to expand our product development team with Polish specialists. We need very skilled people, our investment is not a simple call centre" said Julian Eames, Senior Vice President for F5. Business Operations.

F5 provides solutions for an application world. The company helps organisations scale cloud, data centre and telecommunications networks.

MACROECONOMIC POLAND

  • Exchange rates (as of 17.09.2015):

Buy

Sell

USD

3.6806

3.7550

EUR

4.1511

4.2349

Source: www.nbp.pl

EVENTS

Business delegation from Ningbo will come to Lódź
Łódź Special Economic Zone in cooperation with the Marshal Office of Łódź province and PAIiIZ invite to the meeting with entrepreneurs from China.

September 25, 2015 (Friday) from 8: 30 am to 12: 30 pm, at the headquarters of the Łódź Special Economic Zone (Grohman Factory, ul. Tymienieckiego 22/24 in Łódź) a meeting of the 24 companies from Ningbo will be held. Companies represent, among others, sectors of: recycling, construction, infrastructure, real estate, tourism, e-commerce, medical equipment, lighting, automotive parts, electric drives, electronics, renewable energy, light industry, textile, packaging and food industries.

Registration at: www.gochina.gov.pl/Ningbo2015_B2B to 23 September 2015. Participation is free of charge. (PAIiIZ)

The promotion of Polish art in Germany
Excellent examples of Polish design schools acclaimed around the world will be presented during the exhibition "Designed in Poland" from 21 to 26 September 2015 at the Limbecker Platz shopping mall in Essen, Germany.

Among the exhibits there are objects of interior design, glass art and utility, porcelain, jewellery, clothing, lamps and furniture. All these products are characterised by not only high quality, but also interesting design.

The visitors will receive an illustrated catalogue. They will also be able to take part in the contest for the most interesting product of exhibition where prizes are gifts funded by PAIiIZ.


© Marcin Nowak

The aim of the exhibition is to draw attention to the specific features of the Polish artistic jewellery and utility, as well as modern industrial design. The organisers want to increase the interest of German consumers in the works of Polish designers.

The event is organised by PAIiIZ in cooperation with Trade and Investment Promotion Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Cologne. (PAIiIZ)

The 2nd Eastern Economic Congress in Białystok
About 30 thematic sessions have which are to be attended by over 100 - September 24 the 2nd Eastern Economic Congress starts in Białystok. The main subject areas of the event include: Eastern Europe - the economy, co-operation, the future and borderlands - opportunities in the neighbourhood; the regions of Eastern Poland - the Horizon 2020; and business in Eastern Poland.

The agenda of the 2nd Eastern Economic Congress includes the subject matter of geopolitical conditions determining the state of and prospects for the economy in the east of Europe, the issues of security, as well as international and cross-border cooperation, and the significance of large-scale infrastructure investments. It also involves detailed analyses of the important areas of the economy, such as the energy industry, the agri-food market, medical services, retail trade, tourism, and the hotel industry.

The second edition of the competition under the heading “Top Municipal Investments of Eastern Poland” will be held, where 10 investments that have contributed the most to the development of the economy, the region and the inhabitants of Eastern Poland will be chosen.

PTWP S.A., the organiser of the event will also select a group of ten outstanding employers - enterprises from the five eastern voivodeships of Poland, which combine their influence on the economic development of the region with their important role in the labour market.

The 2nd Eastern Economic Congress will be held from 24 to 25 September 2015, at the European Art Centre in Białystok. PAIiIZ is a partner of the event. More information: www.wschodnikongres.eu/en. (PAIiIZ)

ANALYSES AND REPORTS

Poland higher in the ranking of the most dynamic economies of the world
In the Grant Thorton ranking of the most dynamic business growth environments Poland moved up from 24th to 21st position, ahead of Japan, Hong Kong and France. Austria gained the same result, i.e. 61.1 points out of 100 possible.

The most attractive countries for doing business were sequentially Singapore, Israel and Australia. Polish position in the ranking can be seen as a success, especially considering that among the countries of CEE only Slovenia is ahead of Poland. Other countries from the region, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, occupy the 25th, 31st and 32nd position.

Among the five areas in which the economies were compared, Poland was the best in terms of financial environment, ranked as the 5th economy in the world.

Cyclical survey of Global Dynamism Index (GDI), by audit and advisory company Grant Thornton in collaboration with Intelligence Unit examines 60 economies in the world in terms of dynamic of development. During the study, 22 indicators that have the greatest impact on long-term economic prospects are analysed, e.g. indicators of conditions for the export or the scale of economic activity.

Summary allows to show with numbers how competitive is the given economy, what are its strengths and weaknesses, and how it encourages the development of companies. (www.grantthornton.pl)

Foreign companies invest in Poland
According to a report published by the Centre for Economic Information Poland is chosen by more and more foreign investors.

In the first half of 2015, 3292 companies with foreign capital were registered in Poland. If this trend continues until the end of the year, it will mean a 50% increase compared to the previous year, which was already a record.

More than 44% of foreign companies has chosen for its location Mazowieckie province, 13% - Małopolskie. Third place was taken by Dolnośląskie province (6.78% of foreign companies). The newly registered companies have their offices in 414 towns. The least popular regions are Świętokrzyskie and Warmia-Mazury (respectively approx. 0.4 and 0.5% of all registrations).

The total share capital of newly registered companies is nearly PLN 172 million. The average capital of the company was PLN 52 thousand. 20 companies have of a capital of more than PLN one million. (www.coig.com.pl)

FROM THE REGIONS

Lower Silesia Economic Activity Zone - S3 Jawor
Many partners, one goal - the creation of the Lower Silesia Economic Activity Zone - S3 Jawor (DSAG Jawor S3) - the place with the best conditions for doing business in Lower Silesia on the area of more than 420 hectares. The Ministry of Economy, Legnica Special Economic Zone, PAIiIZ and the authorities of the Dolnośląskie (Lower Silesia) province, the County and the Municipality of Jawor and the Municipality of Męcinka put together a lot of effort for this purpose. 10 September in Jawor, an agreement for the creation of DSAG Jawor S3 was solemnly signed. The document specifies the scope of work and responsibilities to be faced by the project partners.

"Lower Silesian Economic Activity Zone will be a place, where big corporations as well as small and medium-size enterprises will operate and develop. The area is well-prepared not only in terms of land. At the disposal of prospective investors there are also, among others, highly-qualified employees and the possibility to build production and warehouse halls tailored to their needs" stated the undersecretary of state in the Ministry of Economy Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik during the ceremony.


"Lower Silesian Economic Activity Zone will be a place, where big corporations as well as small and medium-size enterprises will operate and develop" said the undersecretary of state in the Ministry of Economy Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik

"Incorporation of DSAG - S3 Jawor into the areas of Legnica Special Economic Zone will enrich the offer with investment incentives in the form of exemption from income tax. Businesses will be able to benefit from the potential of our education, automotive and aviation clusters as well as receive the support from the zone. We will help them on every stage of the investment process" said Rafal Jurkowlaniec, the President of the Legnica Special Economic Zone.


Signing of an agreement for the creation of DSAG Jawor S3

The Lower Silesian Economic Activity Zone - S3 Jawor covers more than 420 hectares of well-connected and well-prepared investment areas in Dolnośląskie province, available for small, medium and large enterprises. The areas located in the Municipalities of Jawor and Męcinka is supposed be one of the subzones of the Legnica Special Economic Zone. It is situated near the currently built highway S3, which is going to connect the ports in Szczecin and Świnoujście with the Czech Republic border city Lubawka. The governments of both countries cooperate on its construction, which is planned to be completed until the end of 2018. (LSEZ)


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