“We expect that the authors of the projects will creatively develop the guidelines of Polish participation in the expo described in the EXPO 2015 Concept Programme adopted by the Council of Ministers. This is the background of the economic and cultural presentation of Poland at the exhibition”, said Sławomir Majman, PAIiIZ president and commissioner-general of the Polish Section at EXPO 2015.

The participation form should be submitted to PAIiIZ by 15:00 on Thursday 24 April. The deadline for the entrants’ presentation is 15:00 on Wednesday 21 May. The finalist will be chosen on 26 May.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140415/competition_polish_pavilion_expo2015. (PAIiIZ)

Over 60 companies from Poland took part in business mission on medical tourism in Germany. The conference in Cologne was addressed to travel offices and agents representing medical tourism. The event was focused on practical aspects of cooperation with German health insurance companies. The meeting in Berlin focused on insurance issues and the EU Directive on cross-border treatment abroad. The trade mission was arranged under the "Preparation and implementation of the concept of trade promotion programme for the medical tourism sector" project. The project also encompasses study visits for foreign journalists to Poland, trade missions to the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and a conference Poland - a fast growing health destination in Washington, DC planned for this year. The project is executed by: PAIiIZ, the European Centre for Enterprise and AMEDS.

Eastern Poland’s promotion stand

Meanwhile, Polish entrepreneurs participated in Hannover Messe 2014, the world's largest technology industry exhibition, which promotes technological innovations. Poland was represented by 70 business people including 40 from the Eastern Poland region representing the metal-machinery sector. Participation in the exhibition was arranged by PAIiIZ under the Eastern Poland Economic Promotion Programme financed by the EU.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140411/polish_doctor_german_patient

www.paiz.gov.pl/20140411/eastern_poland_promoted_in_germany. (PAIiIZ)

The company has been present in Poland since 1994, when Michelin Group's first branch in Central and Eastern Europe was set up in Warsaw. "During the 20 years that have passed since Michelin opened its first office in Warsaw, Poland has turned from a Cinderella into the queen of the ball, said Mr Majman.

Currently, the company employs over 4,300 people. The plant in Olsztyn joins the Michelin Group as one of the largest centres operated by the company. The plant will produce a new generation of tires for agricultural vehicles. The €103m project will create 50 jobs there.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140414/fourth_huge_automotive_investment. (URSUS)

As previously, the US, with 39 projects dominates in terms of the country with the biggest number of FDI in Poland. The leader is followed by Germany (29 projects), France and the UK (10 projects each) and Japan that runs nine projects. China, India, Sweden and South Korea provide six investment each. In terms of sectors, the majority FDI supported by PAIiIZ come from BPO (32 projects), automotive sector (30 projects), R&D (11 projects), and aerospace (10 projects).

In first quarter of this year, 16 investors have decided to locate their investments in Poland with the support of PAIiIZ. In total, they will invest over €1.1 billion and create 4,700 new jobs.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140411/four_next_fdi_in_paiiiz_portfolio. (PAIiIZ)

In terms of the number and the value of foreign investments in Poland, German companies are among the leaders. In 2012, they have invested more than €3.5 billion in the country. Businesses from across the Oder river perceive Poland as the most attractive nearshore investment destinations in CEE. Twenty-two companies with German capital have located their plants in the Wałbrzych SEZ area, creating one of the largest groups in the zone. Among German companies present in WSEZ there are: BASF, Mahle, Johnson Control, Lorenz Snack-World Logistic, Cooper Standard, Quin, Gea, IFM Ecolink and Hoerbiger. In July 2014, public support for investors operating in SEZs will be reduced. (WSEZ "Invest-Park")

IWMAR Marek Kwiatkowski will produce abrasives in the Lubawa sub-zone. The project will involve the expansion and modernisation of existing facilities and the implementation of modern IT systems. The entrepreneur will invest more than PLN 800,000 and create four new jobs. (WMSEZ)

Mobica has offices in Poland located in Warsaw, Łódź, Bydgoszcz and Szczecin, employing 600 programmers work on projects for global clients. In the newest office in Lublin, the company plans to employ software testers and programmers for two expert teams: mobile technologies and quality assurance.

Mobica Ltd develops software for automotive, banking and finance, medical, television and many other sectors. (UM Lublin)

On 28 April PAIiIZ will hold conference on Poland's potential as a country for locating corporate R&D.

The seminar is co-organised by the British Polish Chamber of Commerce and PAIiIZ. PwC and Astra Zeneca are partners of the events. There will be presentations of best practice in terms of commercialising ideas from universities from the UK and other EU members. To register, please complete the form:

www.paiz.gov.pl/Poland_for_RandD_Warsaw - Monday 28 April (14:00-18:00). (BPCC)

The programme consists of B2B talks between Polish entrepreneurs and Chinese companies. The guests from China will represent the following sectors: construction, real estate, electronics, refrigeration equipment, logistics, warehousing, processing and production of steel, decoration, energy, IT, wood, non-ferrous metals, automotive parts, textiles, footwear, biotechnology, health products, health food, cosmetics, electromagnetic devices.

Registration is available online: www.gochina.gov.pl/Qingdao.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140505/meeting_with_chinese_business_from_qingdao. (PAIiIZ)

Polish companies are increasingly interested in the Chinese market. However, many more are neglecting the possibilities of the markets of South East Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), which offer not only some of the most dynamic consumer markets in the world, but also provide a high level of security. The conference of SMEs in South Asian Markets will be attended by Belgian experts working in South East Asia with a knowledge of the new interest among local companies for Polish products and services will provide advice on how to approach those markets.

The seminar will be held in English. To register, please complete the online form by 18 April. For further information, please contact bruksela-polska@wer.pl, +48 22 850 00 85. (Brussels Invest & Export)

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140424/supporting_smes_in_south_asian_markets.

On 7-9 May, Katowice will host one of the most important economic events in Poland. The city will hold the 6th European Economic Congress in Katowice (EEC). PAIiIZ is the official partner of the conference.

The European Economic Congress in Katowice is a three-day series of debates and meetings attended by European commissioners, prime ministers and representatives of European governments, chairmen of big business, scientists and decision-makers who exert a real influence on economic and social life.

The major subjects of this year’s congress include: Europe and the challenges of global competition; the EU's new budget perspective - smart investments; industrial and energy policy; migration and the HR & labour market in Europe; the USA, China and Africa - partners and competitors.

More information: www.eecpoland.eu. (PTWP Group)

Participants will discuss investment opportunities in Poland and Luxembourg in the clean technology, logistics, space technology sectors. They will also look at communication links between the two countries.

Registration is available by email: www.paiz.gov.pl/Poland-Luxembourg until 2 May. (PAIiIZ)

The Forum's programme includes sessions of individual business meetings between Polish and Chinese entrepreneurs from Zhejiang.

Companies interested in participating should register by 20 April: www.gochina.gov.pl/Zhejiang_forum.

The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), PAIiIZ and the Embassy of China are the organisers of the Forum.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20140527/zhejiang_poland_matchmaking_forum. (PAIiIZ)

The fact that exports are growing fasting than imports has a positive influence on the improving balance of trade. The deficit of €362m recorded in 2013 has been turned into surplus of €31m. After two months of 2014, exports grew faster to the developed markets (increasing by 6% to €21.3 billion) than to the emerging and less developed markets (a decrease of 8.2% to €4 billion). Polish exports of goods to the major EU countries rose by 5.2%. The fastest growth was recorded by Finland (by 32.1%), Sweden (by 19.5%), Latvia (by 17%), Spain (by 12.8 %), Belgium (by 12.6%), France (by 6.5%), Italy (by 5.7%), Germany (by 5.1%) and the Czech Republic (by 5%).

© Victoria-Fotolia.com

In January and February, sales to developed markets outside EU increased dynamically by 14.2% (total value of €1.9 billion). The significant increase was recorded by Norway (by 17.4%), Japan (by 18.8%) and South Africa (by 31%).

Exports to the CIS markets dropped by 3.9%, due to the decrease of exports to Russia by 4.9% and Ukraine by 13.8%. On the other hand, exports to Belarus increased by 15.3%. Export to other emerging markets fell by 12.3%. Only to United Arab Emirates (by 65.1%), India (by 31.3%) and Algeria (by 56.3%) did exports grew rapidly.

There is visible growth of exports in the dominant Polish trade sectors such as electromechanical products (by 6.3%) and agri-food products (by 5.1%). The decline was recorded in metallurgical products (by 2.9%) and minerals (6.3%). (CSO/Ministry of Economy)

Until recently, PlayStation Open Days were organised exclusively in the UK. Now, the event will also appear in other European countries. Poland opens the list of new European locations hosting the event, due to the country’s thriving community of independent IT developers that will have a chance to meet together in Kraków. PlayStation Open Days has been arranged as a part of the Digital Dragons, Poland's largest event for the gaming industry. The event will be arranged by Computer Entertainment Europe and the Digital Dragons team. The next editions of PSOD are planned for Germany, Spain and Italy. (SSE Kraków)

Lufthansa will offer flights from Lublin to the German hub in Frankfurt, in A319 aircraft with up to 138 seats in business and economy class. Poland is one of the fastest growing markets for Lufthansa. Lublin Airport is the company’s eighth destination in Poland.

Frankfurt is located in the second-largest metropolitan area in Germany and is at the heart of one of Europe's largest economic regions. (City of Lublin)

The Bollywood film called The Kick is a story of three people whose lives become linked together in Warsaw. Sajid Nadiadwala - one of the most influential people in the Indian film industry is director and producer of the film.

It is not the first time when Warsaw hosts such international film production. The Polish capital has already appeared in the Oscar-winning film The Pianist and in the BBC/TVP series, Spies. The Bollywood film coincides with Poland's ongoing promotion campaign in India called Poland - Come and Find your Story, created by Polish Tourist Organisation. (City of Warsaw)